This past Sunday, the Jacobs family dedicated a sefer Torah to Congregation Ohr HaTorah in memory of the family’s wife and mother, Karen Jacobs (Chaya Bas Yitzchak), z”l, who passed away one year ago after courageously battling cancer for several years.

Karen, also known as Morah Chaya, was an outstanding early-childhood educator for almost 30 years in Monsey, and taught many members of our community. Three of her children (Steven, Elana and Jason) live in Bergenfield, and one (Devorah) in Neve Daniel, Israel.

In addition to her work as a teacher, Karen had a special artistic talent; her paintings are displayed in each of her children’s homes and her apartments in New Jersey and Florida, where her husband, Jerry, still lives. At the Torah dedication, her son Jason compared the “ingredients” that go into a painting, namely the canvas and paint, to the klaf and ink used to create a sefer Torah.

On the outside of the Torah are the words זכרו תורת משה עבדי. These words were selected for several reasons. The Jacobs family have been longtime members of the Community Synagogue of Monsey under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe David Tendler, zt”l. It was these exact words that adorned the אהרן קודש in this shul, and while Rabbi Tendler is no longer here to lead his congregation, the Jacobs family wished to continue their connection to CSM with their new Torah. Additionally, the words זכרו תורת משה עבדי from the book of מלאכי are followed by words describing the coming of Moshiach and conclude by stating והשיב לב אבות על בנים ולב בנים על אבותם—that one day Hashem will return parents to their children, and children to their parents, which will iy’h come one day soon.

The dedication was followed by an amazing youth program, highlighted by the Ballooner Rebbe, face painting, and a candy store from World of Goodies, with over 100 children in attendance. The dedication also comes at a time when OHT has begun its exciting expansion campaign to build a new shul to support the ever-growing community.