On Sunday, February 19 the Pedoeem family of West Orange welcomed close family into their home to begin the process of completing and dedicating a Torah. Filled with excitement, each member of the family received a letter, along with Rav Aviad Klaff, who served as the broker, helping the Pedoeem family along the way.
When Albert Pedoeem, patriarch of the family and visionary, and his wife, Victoria, began this process, they turned to Rav Klaff, founder of Yeshivat Hameiri in Yerushalayim, who connected them with the finest sofer in Eretz Yisrael. The process began in October 2021, and since that time the family’s excitement has grown exponentially. The exhilaration finally peaked at the dedication itself.
After every family member received their letter, the celebration moved to the shul, Ahavas Achim B’nai Jacob & David, where it set up in the vibrant Sephardic shul, which has been close to the Pedoeem family’s hearts for over 30 years. The hachnasat sefer Torah was attended by friends and family who came from communities as far away as Maryland and Great Neck, and many West Orange residents.
Pedoeem family members were given the zechut of being appointed to get a letter without having to wait in line, after which the line was opened up to all who wanted a letter. After about an hour and a half, the Torah was finally closing in on completion. When the last letter was about to be written, the Pedoeem family gathered around the sofer as he commenced its writing.
Immediately after the final letter was written, Albert Pedoeem introduced Rabbi Yosef Sharbat, rabbi of the Sephardic shul, who offered his remarks. Rabbi Sharbat expressed his gratitude for this new Torah, lauded Pedoeem’s perseverance and dedication, and expressed his hopes for the future of the community.
“Most people have something they want to commemorate when they donate a Torah,” said Rabbi Sharbat, “but when I asked Albert what the occasion was, he said, ‘To give thanks to Hashem.’ This is the first time I have seen something like that.”
Rav Klaff was next given center stage to address the attendees. He expressed his gratitude for the kindness of the community and his confidence that they would put the Torah to good use.
Albert Pedoeem offered the closing remarks, commenting how “writing a sefer Torah was never on my bucket list. But, when the opportunity arose, I decided to go through with it … We saw that the community could use a new Torah, and decided, especially with a whole life of blessings from Hashem, that it would be a good idea. After entertaining the idea for a few months, and [with] guidance from friends, [we] decided to [do it]. This dedication is in honor of my parents, Victoria’s parents, for the continued hatzlacha of my family and kids, and thanks to Hashem for the bracha He gave us.”
Following the speeches, everyone entered the social hall to start the celebration. Singing and dancing broke out as the attendees joined to engage in the simcha. Lively songs were blasted and the Torah was danced around by joyous friends and family. Attendees were then welcomed to a sumptuous Sephardic feast.
The West Orange Sephardic community, and the broader West Orange community, is elated to have this new addition to the Aron, and hopes that this Torah will usher in a new era for the Sephardic community, and help propel the community forward into the future. The community looks forward to celebrating many more smachot in the future, culminating with the coming of Moshiach.
Nathan Pedoeem is a junior at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School. He lives in West Orange and is the youngest of five: Ariel (and his wife, Rivka), Deborah, Jonathan, Michael and then Nathan.
