At the observance of the first yahrzeit of her beloved mother, Ettie Bomzer Bloom of Edison proposed to her five siblings that they honor the memory of their parents, Rabbi Dr. Herbert and Leona Bomzer, by sponsoring the writing of a sefer Torah. While they all supported the idea, there were different opinions on which institution would receive the Torah. Then Rabbi Moshe Bomzer received a phone call from Rabbi Judah Mischel, executive director of Camp HASC, and learned that HASC was looking for a sponsor for a sefer Torah.

It did not take long for the family to accept the offer, as much of the family has a very close relationship with Camp HASC. Many of the Bomzer children and grandchildren were involved in Camp HASC.

Rabbi Dr. Herbert Bomzer, known as the rabbi’s rabbi, was ordained at Yeshiva University and received semicha from the revered Rabbis Joseph B. Soloveitchik and Moshe Feinstein. He held a doctorate in Jewish education and administration, as well as a Master of Arts in Jewish history and philosophy. He was the rabbi of the Young Israel of Ocean Parkway for 40 years. As rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva University, he taught Talmud to over 3,000 students for over 50 years. He served twice as president of the Rabbinical Board of Flatbush, was chairman and president of the Halakhic Committee of the Council of Young Israel Rabbis, and was chairman and an officer of the Committee for Hizuk Hadat of the Rabbinical Council of America.

Rebbetzin Bomzer was a brilliant woman with an effervescent personality. She was the epitome of an Aishet Chayil who together with her husband was a major force in the growth of the Flatbush community and its commitment to Torah and mitzvot for all of Klal Yisroel.

On July 25, the Bomzer children and their families gathered at Camp HASC in Parksville, New York, to formally start the writing of the sefer Torah.

The day’s festivities began with inspiring presentations by Reb Shmiel Kahn, camp director; Rav Judah Mischel, executive director; and Rabbi Moshe Bomzer. The first five letters of the Torah were written by Rabbi Moshe Bomzer, Paul Bloom (husband of Ettie Bomzer Bloom), Gedalia Bomzer, Rabbi Joshua Rapps (husband of Tzippora Bomzer Rapps) and Menachem Sklar (husband of Esther Bomzer Sklar). This was followed by the HASC campers, each of whom had an opportunity to write a letter. The sofer who started the Torah was Rabbi Seplowitz. Rabbi Uriel Chemo (Ayelet Bloom’s husband) will be the primary sofer and will complete the sefer Torah by Shabbos Nachamu 2022.

Camp HASC and the Bomzer families and friends look forward to the celebrations on Shabbos Nachamu weekend 5782.