Morristown’s Cong. Levi Yitzchok Gets 1st Torah!

“Congregation Levi Yitzchok of Morristown experienced the most Historic day in it’s history” beamed their President, Ezra Solomon, The New Sefer Torah was inaugurated on Yud Tes Elul 5771, corresponding to Sunday, September 18, 2011.

A Congregation on a mission, they set out on a challenge to do what was described as impossible in it’s thirty year history.

With clinical precision, they campaigned and collected for two years, until finally they had enough funds to pay for their Sefer Torah. Not only that, but no funds were spared in choosing a Sefer Torah written by Sofer, Rabbi Mendel Klein from Kfar Chabad. A Sefer Torah written for the people, paid for with funds collected by the people

On top of that they are collecting Gold and Silver which is being refined for use in a magnificent one-of-a-kind “Designer Kesser” being made at a jewelry studio workshop in Manhattan, with the crowning of the Torah expected to take place early in the New Year.

No money was spared in the purchase of their Sefer Torah, however, this small community appreciates the value of money, and made their own Sium and Hachnosas Sefer Torah, involving all local residents.

They designed their own booklet; invitations; tzedakka boxes; and mantel gift cards using a graphic designer Esther Trager from their Kolel; The Chupah was made by Meir Brashivitzky and Shmuel Estreicher, using a large Tallis; The mobile truck and band was arranged by Moshe Morgenstern, and traveled on the back of a pick up truck owned and driven by Shlomo Greenberg and consisted of Reuven Kasten and local musicians from the congregation and students; the balloons and posters were made by the Cheder kids; The Shul looked magnificent and was prepared by Reuven Tarlow, ready to greet the New Sefer Torah; the seuda was made by the Rabbinical College chef Dovid Solomon, with the décor by Chaia Teitelbaum; Sarah Morgenstern; Miriam Wolosh and Suri Schtroks, featuring center pieces on each table made by our very own Cheder. Administration was run by Cavi Spalter and Shoshana Solomon, and to record everything, of course, the beautiful pictures you are seeing, were taken by their very own photographer, Gedaliah Wolosh.

A real show of Achdus as over three hundred people attended on the day, under the directorship of Shmuel Dovid Spalter, it commenced at Rabbi Zalmen Wilschanski’s house with Rabbi Klein assisting with the completion of the letters. It then proceeded with a parade around Tikvah Way, the Rabbinical College’s 30 townhouse village complex, inhabited by staff and teachers of the college. The Sefer Torah was escorted the under the Chupah and surrounded by the Cheder Boys torch bearers. It proceeded up Sussex Avenue under the control of Victor Felzenberg with the help of the local police, who blocked off the road during the procession, before entering the grounds of The Rabbinical College which houses Congregation Levi Yitzchok. The small Shul was so packed and could not fit all the people, so Hakofos had to continue outside in the courtyard for all to participate.

Master of ceremonies at The Seuda, Shmuel Dovid Spalter, acknowledged members of the event team, and in particular, Ezra Solomon for his tireless efforts at which point their was a moving and standing ovation from all. Words of encouragement were given by Rabbi Moshe Herson, the Rebbe’s Shliach and dean of the college, who urged the community to take this as a stepping stone to increase in learning by availing themselves of the many Rabbonim from the Rabbinical College.

Rabbi Zalmen Wilschanski compiled a fine booklet for all to take home, and spoke of the history, acknowledging past and present members of Congregation Levi Yitzchok.

Late that night, after all was done, Ezra decided to clean and tidy the Shul as he didn’t want the New Sefer Torah to come out – especially on the first day – and find a messy disorderly Shul.

Together with his wife Shoshana, and Avrohom Chaim (who just became a Chosson) they went about doing the clean-up.

A Tifferes Bochur walked in to see Ezra and said words to the effect of “I don’t know what happened in Morristown today, but something shifted and changed in dramatic way. The whole place feels different, and so do I. I came in especially to thank you for changing my life with the new Sefer Torah….”