Police closed off the Buckhurst Hill High Road for a few minutes on Sunday to escort the local Jewish Community as they paraded a new Torah Scroll from their Rabbi’s home on Ardmore Lane to the Jewish Centre on Epping New Road.
These momentous, awe-inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime events stir a good deal of emotions in the people fortunate enough to witness them first hand.
On Sunday, September 15th, Chabad of Buckhurst Hill had the great fortune of holding just such an event. The Scroll was donated by Paul and Martine Groman-Marks in memory of Paul’s late father Jack and over 250 people participated in the event.
Shluchim to Buckhurst Hill, Rabbi Odom and Henny Brandman, said, “this was a truly momentous, memorable and uplifting occasion. Many people had never seen a sofer at work, and certainly never had the opportunity to help write a letter. This Sefer Torah and the event surrounding it was a true Kiddush Hashem and Kiddush Lubavitch.”
This Sefer Torah was written in Israel, however the last 200 letters were left incomplete so that a scribe here, aided by members of the local community, could complete the scroll.
Local community members joined a ceremony at Brandman family home, each individual got to sit down with the scribe and holding onto his arm or quill, help him complete one of the closing letters of the Torah Scroll. This is considered a huge privilege.
To celebrate this auspicious occasion, the community came out in large numbers to welcome Chabad’s new Sefer Torah with a completion and dedication ceremony.
Following the letter writing ceremony, over 250 joined a procession as the Scroll was brought to the Jewish Center. The grand parade was led by a truck with mounted speakers, a revolving crown and a live singer.
Immediately behind was a canopy, held up by 4 community members which covered the scroll. The scroll was passed around so many people could join the honor of bringing the scroll to the Centre.
The streets of Buckhurst Hill reverberated with the sounds of music and rejoicing as the crowds danced around the Torah and Many Rabbis, distinguished community leaders along with friends and guests were given the honor of carrying the Torah scroll along the route. Many locals came out of their homes to see what was happening and cheer on the procession. It was really an amazing sight.
Upon arrival at the Chabad Center there was a large reception with lots of delicious food and the community sang and danced for another two hours to welcome the Torah Scroll to the Centre.
The Groman-Marks relatives and friends were extremely moved by this great merit of having a Torah dedicated in memory of Jack, it will be an everlasting tribute to his memory.
WOW GO RABBI MULLER…:)
The sofer who filled in the last 200 words was Rabbi Moishe Levy shlita, of Stamford Hill,
rabbi shmuli hackner
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