| RABBI'S VISION BECOMES A REALITY CONGREGATION OBTAINS THREE NEW SIFREI TORAH |
RABBI'S REMARKS ON THE DEDICATION OF OUR SIFREH TORAH
"THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE, REJOICE AND BE HAPPY"
I must say that during the last two years and a half, since I became the Rabbi of
this great synagogue, this is my happiest day. And it is so because I have the
privilege to see a dream come true. A dream that comes true through the
generosity and coming together of a whole congregation, in a joint effort to
accomplish one of the greatest mitzvot possible, the dedication of not one, not two
but three Sifreh Torah.
Our sages say that Hachnasat Sefer Torah can be considered like standing at
Mount Sinai and responding to G-d by saying Na'ase Venishma (We will do and
we will listen) just as our forefathers did when they were brought out of Egypt.
The Talmud tells us how a gentile once said to Rabbah "You are (Amma Peziza)
an impulsive people. You said 'We will do" before you even heard what is written
in it, before you even considered how difficult it is to live according to it."
Our sages explain that although for other peoples the response of the children of
Israel may be considered like acting carelessly ...for us this means that instead of
acting according to the intellect we acted according to the dictates of our heart.
And it is written Rachmana Libba..."G-d is not interested in what we think but in
what we feel in our heart and what we do"
During the last few months when dealing with the people that have made this
event possible, I have had the Zehut to come across many men and women who
really have a good heart and act according to it. People who gave me only reasons
to thank G-d for the good fortune of allowing me to be their Rabbi.
By embarking in a joint effort to have new Sifre Torah we showed what we feel:
the great belief that Torah is our life and the key to our continuity. We showed
Our love for the Torah.
King David wrote: Shalom Rav Leohaveh Torateha... "Great peace for those who
love your Torah, they will never fail". He wrote those "who love" your Torah
and not those "who study or observe". This is explained in the Talmud, when Rab
came to Babylon he was very sad to see thet there was almost no knowledge or
study of Torah among the Jews there. So he prayed to the Almighty that these
Jews should be granted love for Torah and fear of heaven. He did so because he
knows that if one loves Torah he will end up learning it and living by it. And while
it is true that it is not expected that everyone will become a Torah scholar, one can
expect from everyone to develop a profound love for Torah and to identify with it
as the very soul of our people.
Something else that our sages say is that the dedication of a new Sefer Torah is
like a wedding: the Torah being the bride and the people, the bridegroom. Like
most grooms on their wedding day, we have danced and celebrated our happiness.
But we also have to ask ourselves what thebride feels and expects from us.
Obviously, like all brides, she does not expect us to leave her home by herself and
come to see her only on special occasions. She, like any normal bride wants us to
spend with her as much time as possible, showing her our love and devotion and
not neglecting her for anyone or anything else.
Today in this moment of celebration we should remind ourselves of the
commitment that we are making.
Finally, to those whose generosity has made this day possible, I can only repeat
the special blessing: "It is a Tree of Life to those who hold to it, and happiness is
granted to those who support it".
"THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE, REJOICE AND BE HAPPY"
I must say that during the last two years and a half, since I became the Rabbi of
this great synagogue, this is my happiest day. And it is so because I have the
privilege to see a dream come true. A dream that comes true through the
generosity and coming together of a whole congregation, in a joint effort to
accomplish one of the greatest mitzvot possible, the dedication of not one, not two
but three Sifreh Torah.
Our sages say that Hachnasat Sefer Torah can be considered like standing at
Mount Sinai and responding to G-d by saying Na'ase Venishma (We will do and
we will listen) just as our forefathers did when they were brought out of Egypt.
The Talmud tells us how a gentile once said to Rabbah "You are (Amma Peziza)
an impulsive people. You said 'We will do" before you even heard what is written
in it, before you even considered how difficult it is to live according to it."
Our sages explain that although for other peoples the response of the children of
Israel may be considered like acting carelessly ...for us this means that instead of
acting according to the intellect we acted according to the dictates of our heart.
And it is written Rachmana Libba..."G-d is not interested in what we think but in
what we feel in our heart and what we do"
During the last few months when dealing with the people that have made this
event possible, I have had the Zehut to come across many men and women who
really have a good heart and act according to it. People who gave me only reasons
to thank G-d for the good fortune of allowing me to be their Rabbi.
By embarking in a joint effort to have new Sifre Torah we showed what we feel:
the great belief that Torah is our life and the key to our continuity. We showed
Our love for the Torah.
King David wrote: Shalom Rav Leohaveh Torateha... "Great peace for those who
love your Torah, they will never fail". He wrote those "who love" your Torah
and not those "who study or observe". This is explained in the Talmud, when Rab
came to Babylon he was very sad to see thet there was almost no knowledge or
study of Torah among the Jews there. So he prayed to the Almighty that these
Jews should be granted love for Torah and fear of heaven. He did so because he
knows that if one loves Torah he will end up learning it and living by it. And while
it is true that it is not expected that everyone will become a Torah scholar, one can
expect from everyone to develop a profound love for Torah and to identify with it
as the very soul of our people.
Something else that our sages say is that the dedication of a new Sefer Torah is
like a wedding: the Torah being the bride and the people, the bridegroom. Like
most grooms on their wedding day, we have danced and celebrated our happiness.
But we also have to ask ourselves what thebride feels and expects from us.
Obviously, like all brides, she does not expect us to leave her home by herself and
come to see her only on special occasions. She, like any normal bride wants us to
spend with her as much time as possible, showing her our love and devotion and
not neglecting her for anyone or anything else.
Today in this moment of celebration we should remind ourselves of the
commitment that we are making.
Finally, to those whose generosity has made this day possible, I can only repeat
the special blessing: "It is a Tree of Life to those who hold to it, and happiness is
granted to those who support it".
