In our parashah this week, Avram and Sarai begin their epic journey. There are so many unknowns in their future, but God promises them: “venivrechu vecha”—those who you encounter will be blessed through you.
Last Thursday, I celebrated with the Paul Penna community (where my kids go to school) as they welcomed a new Torah into the building. This Torah, which is many decades old (possibly close to a century), belonged to the Jewish community of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia’s Sons of Israel synagogue, which closed in 2010, after 110 years of existence.
In 2012, while I was serving as the spiritual leader of the Annex Shul, the Torah was purchased for our community in memory of Suzanne Burgerz”l , the mother of Beth Tzedec member Lorne (Lenny) Burger. As the Annex Shul’s need for a Torah on a regular basis has shifted, this Torah has now been gifted to the Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School. The last and first letters written in the Torah spell “לב”-heart. The energy and joy derived from this new Torah were tremendous and clearly filled the hearts of the students in the room.
The journey of this Torah reminded me of Avram and Sarai’s leave-taking and of Martin Buber’s famous quote: “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveller is unaware”. May it continue to be a source of meaning, celebration and blessing for all who engage with it.
Shabbat Shalom!
Yacov
Reflection questions:
Have you ever been involved in a hachnassat Torah (celebration of welcoming a Torah)? Where was it, who were you with, and how old were you?
What is your first memory of dancing with a Torah?
Is there a skill or experience connected to a Torah that you would like to take on this year?
