By COLlive reporter
A new Torah that is being written to unite the global Chabad-Lubavitch community will actually be written globally.
Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International (Aguch), said he plans to send the parchments of the new scroll around the world so all can take part in its writing.
The new Torah was commissioned last month in light of a string of deaths that occurred in the community and propelled a worldwide call to increase in the mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel.
The initiative was announced during a visit to the Rebbe‘s Ohel resting place in Queens last month, following heartfelt prayer and the reading of a joint ‘pan’ petition to the Rebbe for his blessings.
A cross-section of visitors that came to the Rebbe’s Ohel on Thursday night, the eve of the Rebbe’s birthday, were invited to inscribe the first letters in the new Torah that is being written by Sofer Rabbi Moshe Klein.
“When people begin to see doom it behooves the leadership to address it,” Rabbi Shemtov told COLlive. “Members of Aguch had a conference call and one of the suggestions was writing a Torah in which everyone has a part and everyone can participate.”
Rabbi Shemtov said the plan is for the parchments to be sent to different continents and countries, such as Israel, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, Australia, South Africa, North America and South America.
“It will be written in different parts of the world,” he stated. “We want each community to have access and to participate.”
It is yet to be seen whether this global effort will make it possible to complete the Torah by 3 Tammuz 5774, the 20th anniversary of the Rebbe’s yartzeit.
Another decision will be where the Torah will be placed – in a permanent location or travel between different communities.
Leibel Estrin
this is a lovely initiative…to start with..The leadership must work in ACHDUS in all areas..this indeed would make the Rebbe proud.NO more machloikes from the top down.
So nice to see Rabbi Kalmenson, Rosh Yeshiva of New Haven, in the photos. He has impacted by life in such a profound way, and I have learned both from his Torah brilliance and from his exemplary middos. Any bochur who gets to learn from him is very fortunate!
Rabbi Kalmenson is the most special Chassid and Talmid Chacham that I have ever encountered! He is brilliant but so humble and eidel…. A real Jew …. He really inspires me and all the other bochurim that were fortunate enough to learn under him.