Chabad Of Arizona Celebrates A Sium Safer Torah

Close to 250 people attended the Torah dedication this past Sunday, to Chabad of the West Valley, at the lakes recreational center in Glendale, Arizona.

The Torah Scroll dedicated by Mr. Sholom & Esther Laine of Brooklyn NY, was billed as historic event and was the first Torah Scroll to have been begun and completed in the growing communities which comprise the West Valley of the Greater Phoenix area.

Rabbi Zalman Levertov director of Chabad of Arizona, led the attendees in the recital of Psalms for peace and security for all of Israel followed by a few brief remarks.

Dignitaries from around the world were in attendance, as Mr. Sholom Laine – assisted by the Scribe, Rabbi Moshe Klein of NY- wrote in the last of the 304,808 letters, thereby rendering the Scroll suitable for ritual reading of the Torah during Synagogue services.

Rabbi Sholom Lew, spiritual leader of Chabad of the West Valley, compared the writing of the Torah to the importance of every single individual in the Jewish community. Rabbi Lew pointed out that until the very last letter of the Torah was filled in, the Torah was unsuitable for ritual use. “Though it may have had the look and feel of a real Torah, without the final letter it would still have been unsuitable for use” said Rabbi Lew.

Following the raising and crowning of the new Torah by Rabbi Yosef Laine, Rabbi Zev Katz, a member of the board of the Chabad-Lubavitch educational arm (Merkos L’inyoney Chinuch) as well as the “gabay” of the Synagogue at the Lubavitch world headquarters in 770 Eastern Parkway, spoke a few words in honor of the event before conducting and emceeing the Hakafot which traditionally follow a Torah dedication.

The final speaker was Rabbi Shmuel Lew of the UK, and father of Rabbi Sholom Lew, who touched upon the theme of community growth and achievement, whilst appreciating the unique strengths and qualities of each and every community person. He quoted from the laws of Torah writing, where each letter requires its own “personal space” within the Torah scroll and one letter must not interfere with another letter, connecting this idea to a paradigm of Jewish community growth.

The festivities continued with the Torah being inducted into the ark. The formal event was followed by a special Hassidic gathering at the Chabad house with the many guests and Chabad representatives who remained.