There was a wedding on Sunday with cries of mazel tov as members of the Jewish community were married to God during the completion of the Torah at Binghamton University.
BU's Chabad House took part in writing the last letters of a new scroll, known as Siyum Sefer Torah. The Torah contains the first five books of Hebrew scripture.
Binghamton University Chabad House given Torah
There was a wedding on Sunday with cries of mazel tov as members of the Jewish community were married to God during the completion of the Torah at Binghamton University.
BU’s Chabad House took part in writing the last letters of a new scroll, known as Siyum Sefer Torah. The Torah contains the first five books of Hebrew scripture.
“It’s a symbol of marriage between members of the Jewish faith and God,” said Elizabeth Budman, a junior from Binghamton who had never before seen a completion of a Torah. “It’s a very joyous time that’s important to us all.”
The Torah was a gift to BU’s Chabad House from Joseph Steinberg of Brooklyn. Sternberg is related to Rabbi Aaron Slonim and his wife, Rivkah, co-directors of the Chabad House Jewish Student Center.
BU President Lois DeFleur called the completion of the Torah “impressive.”
“This will strengthen the lives of not just the Jewish students but all students,” she said. “The Chabad House has grown and developed and has made a big difference in students’ lives.”
As the last letters were being filled in, Rivkah Slonim addressed the crowd in the old student union and spoke of the importance of the Torah.
“Big things happen around us and to us,” she said. “Why? Our Torah. The Torah is the tree of light to those that hold on to her. This is an exact replica of the first Torah scroll Moses wrote. It is a celebration of love and passion.”
Students and families were called up to the stage, as Rabbi David Cohen filled in the last letters of the Torah under a red canopy. Just before the last letter was completed, Cohen said the Torah is like a ring in a marriage. “This is a wedding between God and the Jewish people,” he said. “But a marriage needs a ring. And the ring is the Torah.”
As Cohen finished, the more than 100 in attendance yelled “mazel tov.” Several of the rabbis danced together and held up the scrolls for all to see the Hebrew letters of their name written in the Torah. The scrolls were carried through a line of students, so they could kiss the Torah. “Those who kiss the Torah will live a long and healthy life,” Rabbi Slonim said.
Students then lined up outside the old student union and began to parade the new Torah to the Chabad House at 420 Murray Hill Road in Vestal.
Tzvi Furer, a junior from Long Island, said it was a great honor to attend the completion of the scroll.
“I have a feeling of unity and feel at one with my people,” he said. “Seeing my Hebrew letter written in the Torah gives me a feeling of lastingness. I feel like I’ve been etched into history.”
