(Courtesy of RYNJ) On Dec. 6, amid great fanfare, live music and joyous dancing, RYNJ welcomed a brand-new Sefer Torah into the yeshiva. Commissioned by Sam Zoldan and his children, RYNJ parents Ephraim and Michelle Davidowitz and his son and daughter-in-law Mark and Yael Zoldan, in memory of their beloved wife and mother Sara Zoldan, Sara bas Chaim Tzvi, a”h, this Torah ensures that her legacy of Jewish values will continue to inspire future generations.
The Torah, accompanied by the Davidowitz and Zoldan families, RYNJ Head of School Rabbi Daniel Price, RYNJ rebbeim, and eighth grade ruach leaders, made its journey through the building, stopping at each division for a jubilant welcome. From the moment the first notes of the trumpets, saxophone and trombone heralding the Torah procession rang out, the joy and energy in the building were palpable. The children were eagerly lining the hallways at each stage of the procession, waving colorful flags and wearing beautiful Torah headbands. Eighth grade leaders added fantastic ruach as they followed the chuppah, dancing and giving out pekalach to all of the children.
After the procession through their hallways, boys in grades two to five enjoyed joyous dancing in the Felman Gymnasium with the Zoldan and Davidowitz families and their rebbeim. The Early Childhood Division was then brought upstairs for this momentous occasion and watched with awe as the Torah was danced through the concourse. The procession then made its final stop in the Mandel Beis Medrash, where the Middle School Boys were excitedly waiting for their turn to dance with the Sefer Torah. After more incredible dancing, the Torah was greeted by the other RYNJ Torahs before formally making its way up to its makom in the Aron Kodesh, and the boys were seated as Rabbi Price and Ephraim Davidowitz each spoke.
As Ephraim Davidowitz shared so powerfully, “The mantel of this Torah quotes: ‘לא ימושו מפיך ומפי זרעך ומפי זרע זרעך.’ This was what she (Sara Zoldan) stood for, this is what the yeshiva stands for and that’s why the Sefer Torah is being dedicated here today. May the dancing we did for this Torah this morning, and the use of this Torah and the Torah being learned here daily, help bring us closer to do some more dancing, to dance with the coming of Moshiach, bimheirah b’yameinu.” May the neshama of Sara bas Chaim Tzvi, a”h see tremendous nachat from this beautiful Torah and from her loving family, and may the RYNJ students carry these memories of this extraordinary Simchas HaTorah with them for many years to come.
