(Courtesy of Bris Avrohom) Bris Avrohom held its 41st Annual Dinner on Sunday, November 8, on the great lawn of Congregation Shomrei Torah Ohel Yosef Yitzchok—Bris Avrohom Center. The event honored the commencement of writing a new Sefer Torah for the Merit of Unity and Protection.
Of course, all COVID measures were in place: The dinner was an all-day affair, thus enabling social distancing by having only 15 couples per hour; additionally, everyone enjoyed a cocktail hour with a delicious buffet set up behind PlexiGlass with individually plated bites of food.
A total of 150 letters were written for the beginning of the Torah, and the entire remainder of the sefer Torah will be written in Jerusalem, the Jewish capital for over 3,000 years. Our Sages teach us that the name Jerusalem symbolizes peace, as it is an “ir shalom,” a peaceful city.
The participants each sponsored letters and parshios. Additionally, leaders of the community as well as surrounding areas were honored with writing letters, such as the Kosover Rebbe of Linden, Rabbi Avrohom Herman, Rabbi Jonathan Schwartz, and Rabbi Elazar Meir Teitz of the JEC in Elizabeth.
Upon their departure, each couple was treated to a delicious dinner for two to go, catered by Zami Caterers, as well as a complimentary bottle of Bartenura Champagne sponsored by Royal Wine Corp. The live musical entertainment by Sandy Shmuely was truly uplifting and enjoyed by all.
The Community Service Award was bestowed to Kevin Corbett, president and CEO of the New Jersey Transit, for his assistance in helping us spread the lights of Chanukah to tens of thousands of travelers in the State of New Jersey. Two additional awards were presented to the dinner chairmens, Tzvi Odzer and Alan Schall, for their leadership and dedication to Bris Avrohom.
Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky spoke about how the one unifying factor throughout the three-and-a-half millennia of our history has been the Torah. The Torah is what guards us and keeps us safe, as it is written in the Book of Daniel: “ וּבָעֵת הַהִיא יִמָּלֵט עַמְּךָ כָּל־הַנִּמְצָא כָּתוּב בַּסֵּפֶר—At that time, your people will be rescued, all who are found inscribed in the book.” At a time when we all need protection, it is the opportune time for us all to unite and be protected together through this sefer Torah!
Written entirely in Hebrew, a Torah scroll contains 304,805 letters, all of which must be duplicated precisely by a sofer, an effort that may take as long as approximately one and a half years; thus, each letter will be assigned to every individual, retroactively uniting us all. You can be a partner with us in this special project by purchasing a letter and by encouraging your friends and family to join in as well.
To purchase a letter in the Unity Sefer Torah please contact 908-289-0770 or
www.brisavrohom.org.
