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Rabbi Mordechai Andrusier of Chabad of Pembroke Pines leads the celebration for the synagogue’s first owned Torah. Photo: Eric Bojanowski

Approximately 100 congregants marched the streets by singing, dancing and celebrating Chabad of Pembroke Pines' first owned Torah.

Florida Chabad House Grows with a Torah

Sun-Sentinel

Rabbi Mordechai Andrusier of Chabad of Pembroke Pines leads the celebration for the synagogue’s first owned Torah. Photo: Eric Bojanowski

Approximately 100 congregants marched the streets by singing, dancing and celebrating Chabad of Pembroke Pines’ first owned Torah.

This procession in the streets of Pembroke Pines recently was an emotional celebration for the synagogue’s founder, Rabbi Mordechai Andrusier, as the Torah was dedicated in the memory of his grandmother Chana and nephew Yonatan.

“Some people relate death as final and as a separation of a loved one but here with this dedication we have loved ones being connected because there’s something eternal with a Torah,” Andrusier said while discussing the emotion of honoring his late family members. “Every time we take out the Torah, their names are on the covering and their legacy lives on.”

Andrusier, who’s originally from Brooklyn, NY, founded the synagogue in 2005. When his grandmother and nephew died a month apart in 2008, he took the time to do something in their honor. He said that over the past year, the synagogue worked extremely hard towards the dedication.

“It took a lot of money and a long time but we had a lot of donors from throughout the United States and the fact that it’s finally come to fruition is unbelievable and it gives me energy to try something new,” he added.

Although this Torah is the synagogue’s first owned one, it has borrowed others. Andrusier and congregants celebrated the new Torah with the borrowed ones at the end of the procession. He feels that this new Torah is a sign of growth for the synagogue and an essential piece in moving from a rented location to a more permanent place.

“When people see this Torah, they will know it is ours and that it’s not going anywhere,” he said. “People like established organizations, whether it’s in business or spirituality. They want to be with a community and a center that’s growing and when they come and see the essential thing in place that a temple needs and the main piece of a Jewish community, it means that the temple is growing.”

Rabbi Pinny Andrusier, co-director for Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Broward, was proud of his younger brother’s efforts.

“I brought him down here to open up Chabad of Pembroke Pines and thank God it’s been growing beautifully,” he said. “This is a real milestone and it’s a real sign of growth to be able to welcome a new Torah into the community.”

Melissa Frommer, who teaches Hebrew school at the synagogue, said “This Torah is very important to us because it belongs to us and the rabbi has worked very, very hard and tirelessly for the community.”

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