For the Suss family from Teaneck, their son Rafi’s bar mitzvah presented an amazing opportunity to dedicate and donate a sefer Torah to Torah Academy of Bergen County, where Rafi’s older brother Eytan is a freshman. They celebrated with a hachnasat sefer Torah at TABC, in which the guests joined together with TABC students to celebrate the arrival of the new Torah. Rafi and his parents decided that this would be a unique and meaningful experience for Rafi to enter gil mitzvot.
The Torah was dedicated in memory of Rafi’s saba, Jerry Pasternak. The Suss family described Mr. Pasternak as “a man who lived life to its fullest each and every day. He had a special simcha about him that is a trait clearly seen in Rafi as well. His love for Hashem’s Torah is what made this momentous occasion even more special for all of us.” It was only fitting that he was remembered through this Torah and meaningful event.
The TABC students opened their evening with a shiur from Judaic Studies Principal Rabbi Ezra Wiener after Maariv. They then proceeded outside, where, together with the other bar mitzvah guests, they began dancing in the street. After a few minutes, the Suss family began walking the Torah around the building, and were escorted by the singing and dancing of the huge crowd of guests and students, who continued to bring geshmake energy to the celebration. The throng of people moved their way inside, and continued through the hallways and up the stairs to the TABC beit knesset. There, they continued to show their love for Torah and celebrate the new one as they brought it up and placed it in the aron. The Suss family clearly felt very proud to witness their son at the center of it all. Describing his feelings during the festivities, Rafi’s father, Jason, said, “Watching Rafi dance with so many loved ones, including family, friends and so many very lively TABC students with this sefer Torah was a once-in-a-lifetime moment that we will cherish forever. We are so grateful to the entire community at large who traveled from near and far to not just participate but to actively enhance this simcha on every possible level. It was a dream come true!”
After the dancing, the family and friends continued their celebrations with dinner, before Rafi’s friends played in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. The kids had a lot of fun playing in the friendly atmosphere of the games, and all went home with smiles on their faces.
TABC Head of School Rabbi Asher Yablok commented: “We at TABC are thrilled that the Suss family chose to partner with us for this momentous occasion. We look forward to using their Torah for many years to come.”
Overall, Rafi’s bar mitzvah presented a unique opportunity for everyone in attendance to witness and take part in a hachnasat sefer Torah, an event that people don’t experience too often. The vibrant atmosphere during the celebration was spiritually uplifting for everyone in attendance, as the unique TABC energy was shared with the guests from the community.
By Eli Rifkind
