The shofar blast announced the beginning of the celebration, and it was a day to remember for members of Kehilath Israel Synagogue. On Sunday afternoon, Feb. 27, about 325 people filled the sanctuary to witness the final words written in the congregation’s 100th anniversary Torah.
Arnold and Carol Caviar and their family underwrote the project, dedicating the Torah and the mantle, which began more than a year ago as part of KI’s 100th anniversary celebration. Funds raised by the project will support KI activities.
“This day is a result of Arnie Caviar’s vision,” said KI President Steve Osman.
More than 300 people, including congregants and friends of KI in the community, contributed to the project. Dedication opportunities included making donations for letters; aliyot; special sections; parshiot; and books. A few people purchased enough letters to spell a certain word or write a phrase. Donations also paid for the gartel (Torah sash); atzei chayim (wooden Torah rollers); yad (pointer); shield (breast plate); crown; parchment, ink and quills; and torah and mantle.
Contributors “purchased” certain letters, a word, a phrase, a portion of the week, or even one of the books of the Torah. Donors were invited to share in the activities, beginning that morning, by writing a letter in the Torah along with the sofer (scribe) Rabbi Shmuel Miller.
“It is very, very special as we dedicate our own Torah in the second century of our congregation’s existence,” Rabbi Herbert Mandl said.
The scribe added the final words to the Torah while seated on the bimah underneath the chuppah in the sanctuary. The actual writing took place under the chuppah, since a Torah scroll is often considered like “the bride of the Jewish people.”
Rabbi Miller, who has written 27 Torahs, wrote this one on kosher parchment using a quill from a turkey and ink made of berries. If it is unrolled from end to end, its length is approximately the size of a football field. Rabbi Miller said it usually takes six to 12 months to write a Torah and he spends approximately six hours per day writing.
The Torah mantle, a contemporary design of blues, red, greys and plums, has stitched on the outside in Hebrew, “The Torah Will Be Made Great And Glorious.
Rabbi Mandl said this Torah will become the congregation’s main Torah and should be in use beginning this week.
KI chose this project as a way for its members to fulfill the 613th commandment to “write a Torah in one’s lifetime.” Since the Torah is called a “Tree of Life,” the synagogue’s younger members fittingly entertained the audience with that song, as well as several others. Chazzan Jeffrey Shron also entertained.
