Eighth Unity Torah Completed
In the historic Tzemach Tzedek synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem, the eighth Children’s Torah scroll was completed. The final letters were inscribed at a unique ceremony at the Western Wall on Monday, 20 Av—anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father. The campaign to unite Jewish children through acquiring a letter in a special Children’s Torah Scroll was initiated by the Rebbe in the spring of 1981. Since then, over 2,000,000 Jewish children have united through this project!
New Center
Rabbi Shmaya and Hadassa Hecht have established the Chabad Jewish Center of Oxford, Connecticut. The Chabad Jewish Center of Oxford will host Shabbat and holiday celebrations, Hebrew school, adult education classes, cultural events and social gatherings. The new center is the ninth center in the Greater New Haven area.
Hakhel and the writing of a Torah are commandments that stress the unity of the Jewish people. Hakhel encompasses all Jews “men, women, children and proselytes”—equally. Indeed, that is why this commandment is termed Hakhel, which means “congregation.” In this case, those who congregate lose their individual identity and form an entirely new totality. Writing a Torah scroll, too, stresses the concept of unity, for while Jews differ greatly in their comprehension of Torah, all are equal with regard to writing a Torah scroll. (The Chasidic Dimension, Based on Likkutei Sichos Vol. XIX, pp. 298-304)
