It started as a concept that Rabbi Avrohom Stone, rabbi of Congregation Bnei Torah in West Orange and a supervising rabbi for the OU, received in an email: a challenge for all congregations to finish a sefer before the siyum HaShas. Rabbi Stone shared the suggestion with Rabbi Marc Spivak, spiritual leader of Congregation Ohr Torah, who decided to put the idea into action at his shul. Rabbi Spivak organized a study group for the 613 mitzvot, which the congregation finished almost twice over. From its start just after the 5780 high holidays to its recent conclusion, the popular program on Sefer Hachinuch was an unqualified success. A celebration took place on a recent Motzei Shabbat at the synagogue, with a light dinner prepared by Chef Jay Goldberg and his staff at Ohr Torah.

Headlining the celebration was Rabbi Mordechai Becher, a senior lecturer for the Gateways Organization, who teaches Jewish history and philosophy at the James Striar School (JSS) of Yeshiva University. The talk from the noted lecturer amazed the attendees, who enjoyed his often humorous and detailed description of “Why the Mitzvot?.” Rabbi Spivak preceded Rabbi Becher with a list of sources for mitzvot study, including books, rules and reasons. He was followed by the ineffable Rabbi Stone, who added his special style of words of Torah to delight the crowd.

By Jonathan Weber

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