A New Sefer Torah Welcomed at Montecito Chabad in Celebration of Jewish Pride and Community
by CrownHeights.info
History was made in Montecito on Sunday, August 9th, as approximately 150 people gathered for a joyous Hachnasat Sefer Torah—welcoming a newly dedicated Torah scroll to Chabad of Montecito.
The celebration, led by Rabbi Chaim and Mushkie Loschak, directors of Chabad of Montecito, brought together Jewish families and community members of all ages, from babies and young children to grandparents, along with local rabbis and their families. The new Torah, generously dedicated by the Ruimy family, marks a significant milestone for the growing Jewish community.
Until now, Chabad of Montecito had relied on a borrowed Torah for its services. The arrival of a Torah of its own represents far more than the addition of a sacred scroll. It establishes a lasting connection between the community and one of Judaism’s most enduring symbols of Jewish identity, continuity and faith.
The festivities began with a lively procession, as the new Torah was carried amid music and celebration. Mendel Kudan provided the music from an open truck driven by Elizabeth Peck, while Rabbi Chaim Loschak, his brother Rabbi Mendel Loschak of Chabad of Santa Barbara, and Bryan Gindoff accompanied the Torah.
As the procession made its way down the private driveway toward the celebration’s host home, singing and dancing filled the gathering. Families, children and friends joined together to escort the Torah into its new home, continuing a tradition that has united Jewish communities throughout the generations.
Following the procession, the community gathered on the patio for blessings and the ceremonial lifting of the Torah, allowing those present to view its handwritten letters. Rabbi Chaim used the occasion to share a powerful message about the meaning of community.
“Every single letter matters,” he explained, drawing a parallel between the Torah scroll and the people who make up a Jewish community. Just as a Torah is incomplete when even one letter is damaged or missing, he said, every individual has a place and a role within the community.
“Nobody is a spare part we don’t really need. We need everyone. And everyone belongs.”
The Ruimy family, whose generosity made the dedication possible, expressed their hopes for the Torah’s future in Montecito.
“Welcoming a new Sefer Torah is a deeply meaningful and joyful celebration,” the family shared. “We are truly honored to dedicate this Sefer Torah to the new Chabad Montecito Community Center and to contribute to the growth of this wonderful community.”
They added that they hope the Torah will “serve as a source of learning, inspiration and celebration, bringing people together and enriching Jewish life in Montecito for generations to come.”
The formal ceremony soon gave way to the unrestrained joy that accompanies a Torah celebration. Men danced with the Torah, while women and children joined in their own dancing. Food, photographs and warm conversations filled the afternoon as community members celebrated the milestone together.
For Rabbi Loschak, the occasion represented the beginning of something even greater.
“For generations, Jews have gathered around the Torah—carrying it, dancing with it, learning from it, and passing it from one generation to the next,” he reflected. “And now, Montecito has its very own Torah.”
The arrival of the new Sefer Torah comes as Chabad of Montecito continues to build Jewish life and community in the area. With its own Torah now at the heart of the community, the scroll will accompany future Shabbat services, holidays, celebrations, classes and countless personal milestones.
The dancing may have ended and the guests may have gone home, but the Torah’s journey in Montecito has only just begun.
With deep gratitude to the Ruimy family and to all those who took part in the celebration, Chabad of Montecito welcomed not simply a new Torah, but a new chapter in the story of Jewish life in Montecito.
Montecito has a Torah—and the community is ready to write the next chapter.
