“God has put these words in my mouth. I wrote them with ink in a book.” — Book of Jeremiah
Throughout our history, the Jewish people have been known as Ahm HaSefer — the People of the Book. That book is the Torah, the ancient scrolls that records our stories, laws, and customs, and defines the very core of Jewish life.
The Torah’s last command, the 613th Mitzvah, requires that every Jew participate in the writing of a Torah scroll. Fulfilling this ultimate commandment ensures that we will pass on our sacred traditions to future generations.
To celebrate Brotherhood Synagogue’s 70th anniversary, we commissioned the writing of a new Sefer Torah. This Sefer Torah project allowed Brotherhood’s members and our extended community a way to celebrate this milestone in the life of our congregation, as well as to participate in a mitzvah of unequal importance.
“Turn the Torah, and turn it again, for all things are in it.” — Ethics of the Sages
Our new Torah was written in Israel’s ancient community of B’nei Brak under the supervision of renowned scribe Rabbi Zerach Greenfield. Zerach visted Brotherhood Synagogue over the course of the year to introduce the project and provide progress reports.
The writing of a Sefer Torah is a mystical event. The scribe, or sofer, uses the same tools that have been used for centuries: the highest-grade parchment, ink created from carbon, gallnuts, and honey. Each letter (and there are 304,805 of them) is painstakingly written with the use of a quill pen and style of calligraphy known in Hebrew as the “exalted script.” The scribe must have a printed copy of the Torah before him and must pronounce each word when writing to keep his mind from wandering and to prevent errors in spelling. These exacting standards ensure that the Torah produced is both accurate and sacred.
“So now, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel.” — Book of Deuteronomy
Participation in the Mitzvah
Every congregant had the opportunity to endow the writing of our Torah. Our Torah Scribe Zerach Greenfield helped people write a letter in the Torah. Upon completion, we had a joyful siyyum to celebrate the finishing of the Torah.
All contributors had their names inscribed in the Sefer Torah Project album and received a certificate confirming their endowment.
Funds raised for the Torah Project were used towards the purchase of the Torah and all of its adornments, the repair of our existing Torahs and events associated with this project. Excess funds raised will be spent on other Brotherhood projects and needs as directed by the Board of Trustees.
