Chabad of Riverdale’s Torah Dedication

Last Sunday, April 28, was a beautiful spring day and the perfect setting for the Riverdale Jewish community’s dual celebration at Seton Park: Lag B’Omer and the Siyyum Sefer Torah. The festivities began at 12:30 with the Lag B’Omer picnic, where families enjoyed pony rides, kite-making and flying, candy floss and popcorn, a Frisbee show, moon bounce, and booger war.

Just a hundred meters away from the picnic, a massive show of achdus and pride were displayed as families gathered around the tent at the entrance to Seton Park where Rabbi Faitel Lewin, the Sofer, was stationed with the new Sefer Torah. Painstakingly written over the course of an entire year, the Sefer Torah was gifted by Rabbi Lewin to the Chabad of Riverdale community, and was dedicated in loving memory of his dear parents, Rabbi Tzvi Leib and Toyba Lewin.

Some began dancing while others focused their eyes on Rabbi Lewin as he penned in the last letters of the Torah. Community leaders and donors who had dedicated a parsha in the Torah were given the zechus of filling in the last letters of the Torah alongside Rabbi Lewin.

In a moving moment, Rabbi Levi Shemtov called all the children to the front to be present while he recited the birkas kohanim. Stefanie Zvi, whose sons attend Chabad’s Release Time program every Wednesday afternoon, thanked Chabad for “the fantastic opportunity to share in the celebrations. My children look forward to learning about Yiddishkeit every week with other Jewish children, and we have Chabad of Riverdale to thank for that.”

The effervescence and joy were palpable as hundreds of men, women, and children began the parade with the new Sefer Torah to its new home at Chabad of Riverdale on West 246^th Street. Leading the parade were the pride and joy of Chabad of Riverdale: 40 Early Learning Center students wearing their “I own a letter in Chabad of Riverdale’s Community Torah” tee shirts and waving their flags.

A special float carried the Torah to Chabad, with live music enhancing the simcha. The police blocked off West 246^th Street to traffic to the satisfaction of community members and bystanders, who participated in lively hakafos with the Sefer Torah. The other Sefer Torahs were brought out of the shul to greet the new Torah, and lively dancing ensued. Tables were set up outside Chabad of Riverdale, and the community was treated to a sumptuous Seudas Mitzvah.

Steven Feuerstein, a loyal and dedicated member of the Riverdale Jewish community, commented: “The Riverdale community cannot thank Chabad enough for giving us the privilege to have participated in such a dignified, meaningful, and spiritual dedication.”

In an emotional and heartfelt speech at the dedication, Rabbi Levi Y. Shemtov, Director of Chabad of Riverdale, recalled the conversation where Rabbi Lewin asked him if he could donate the Sefer Torah, the product of his labor, to him. “I couldn’t believe it,” Rabbi Shemtov said, “he was asking me if we would accept his Torah. I was touched beyond words. In our community, we believe in reaching out with love, kindness, and compassion to each and every individual. Just as each and every letter in the Torah is crucial, so is each and every person in the community. To have our own Community Torah, written for, and gifted to, Chabad of Riverdale, is truly a cause to celebrate.”