 |
       
|
|
|
|
|
KEHILAT SHALOM Commissions New TorahKehilat Shalom is embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by commissioning the writing of its own brand new Sefer Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament painstakingly inked on parchment and attached to two wooden rollers. With the rich experience of facilitating scribe, Rabbi Menachem Youlus of the Jewish Bookstore in Silver Spring, and under the watchful eye of Kehilat Shalom’s own Rabbi Mark Raphael, Kehilat Shalom celebrates the commencement of its Torah Program, “Mitzvah 613: Elevating our Spirit, Energizing our Congregation,” on Sunday, January 24, 2010. Writing a Sefer Torah, according to the great 12th century philosopher and Rabbi, Maimonides, is one of the 613 commandments of the Jewish tradition. Mitzvot (mitzvahs) are the rituals, ethics, and spirituality by which a Jew feels God. In a letter to his Kehilat Shalom congregation and community, Rabbi Raphael explained that “[t]he very last mitzvah in the Torah is to write a Torah scroll. By [writing and] endowing a letter, word, or sentence for yourself, your children, family members, and friends, it is as if you have written your own Torah scroll…. Despite millennia of upheaval, not one of the Torah’s 304,805 letters has [ever] been changed. The words we read in the synagogue today are the same [ones that we have read] throughout our long history.” So, the inking of these letters can connect us to past “simchas” or happy events and loved ones as well as helping to ensure the future of Torah in our community. Rabbi Raphael continued, “It is amazing to realize that you, your children, and your grandchildren will be reading from this [same] scroll for the next 200 years or more.” Please join Kehilat Shalom over the next nine months for what promises to be a remarkable, educational, and spiritual journey for its entire Upper Montgomery County community, as they write their very own Sefer Torah. Following the January kickoff, Rabbi Youlus will visit monthly providing educational programs and Torah writing opportunities for congregants, families and friends in the community. Rabbi Raphael also said in his letter that “[t]hrough these programs we will have the opportunity to experience the holiness of our sacred scroll. Powerfully, in [Kehilat Shalom’s] new Torah, thousands of letters will be outlined, but not filled in. We will be [allowing]… individuals and families to spend [time] with Rabbi Youslus to actually fill in [those] letter[s].” A very wide variety of events and programs is planned – ranging from understanding more about the Torah to learning calligraphy and even including a treasure hunt for preschoolers. Events open to the public that have been planned include: February 7: Reading between the Lines: Discovering the Where, What & How of Every Torah March 3: Preschool Treasure Hunt, “The Mystery of Mr. Munchy’s Footprints” March 21: Drawing God’s Lines: Intro to STaM Calligraphy and Writing April 11: The Wisdom of the Hebrew Alphabet: What is behind the Creation and Formation of the Hebrew Letters and Let’s Write a Mezzuzah May 16: Making God a Local Call September 26: Torah Dedication and last Torah Writing Opportunity If you would like more information about these future events or would like to attend, please call our synagogue office at (301) 869-7699.
|
Send mail to seaboardregionpresident@gmail.com for general information and inquiries.Send mail to
seaboard.webmaster@gmail.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
