On Sunday, November 5, an extraordinary hachnosas sefer Torah was held in Kew Gardens Hills. The joy of the mitzvah was enhanced with the energetic music of singing sensation Avi Peretz and his keyboardist Ori Bitan as the joyous parade passed along 68th Drive across Main Street to 147th Street, until reaching 70th Road, where the Torah joined Shuva Israel of Queens. The final letters for the scroll were completed at the home of the rav, Rabbi Shimon Sadon shlit”a, and the celebration included the attendance of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto shlit”a, the esteemed president and rav of the Shuva Yisrael community.
Ariel Chaimov and his family, a dear friend and congregant of the shul, commissioned the Torah in loving memory of his father, Eliyahu ben Rivka z”l, and for the r'fuah sh'leimah of Aryeh Yehuda ben Odaya. While the Torah was available for some time, the sponsors felt that now, amidst the difficult situation for klal Yisrael, was the opportune time to show our collective love to Hashem and our pride in our Jewish heritage. Inaugurating a sefer Torah into a community shul and publicizing the great deed to the world with spirited dancing amongst children and spouses felt like a poignant act to express our gratification in being G-d-fearing, religious Jews. The procession and participation of Rabbi Pinto, Chief Rabbi of Morocco, made a tremendous kiddush Hashem throughout the Kew Gardens Hills neighborhood. The festivities continued in the shul, where a festive seudas mitzvah was held in the company of over 150 participants. Rabbi Pinto delivered a special d’var Torah that made lasting impressions on the listeners.
It is the impassioned prayer of the sponsors that this celebration should bring blessings to all am Yisrael, and that the hostages and soldiers in Israel should return healthy and speedily. Thanks is expressed to Queens Shmira for providing public safety for the escort. Acknowledgement is given to the sponsors for allowing the Queens Asifa to complete prior to the procession.
By Shabsie Saphirstein, Community Outreach Coordinator, Queens Shmira
