A Summary of the Torah of Our Own Project from our Chairs
Mission - The 613th commandment in the Torah is to “write a
Torah.” Thanks to the participation of our congregants, Temple Jeremiah's new Torah is now complete. There were many opportunities
for member families to join with the Sofer, Rabbi Moshe Druin, in actually writing
letters (scribing) in this new Torah. This was an absolutely unique experience.
Torah of Our Own was one of the most exciting
events in Temple Jeremiah’s 50 year history and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our congregants.
Participation - A primary goal of Torah of Our Own was full congregational
participation. Along with the letter-writing opportunities
there were accompanying events designed to appeal to the full
breadth of members’ spiritual and intellectual interests.
From activities for students and their families to Empty
Nesters, Brotherhood, Sisterhood and adult education—virtually
every facet of Temple Jeremiah life featured unique programming
to inspire, educate and entertain. Participation ensured
a tangible and enduring legacy as this new Torah, our Torah,
is used in worship services—L’dor V’dor—for
generations to come.
Dedication - Congregants had the unique opportunity to dedicate
specific words, names and passages that had special meaning
for them.
The Torah of Our Own (TOO) Committee - Its charge was to
commission
a new Torah scroll for the Temple and build a full year of
related activities around this endeavor. The committee retained
a Torah scribe (Sofer), selected dates for letter writing
(scribing) events and developed
a host of educational and inspirational activities to enhance congregants’ connections to Torah, to Temple
Jeremiah and to each other.
Thanks to the Committee for their hard work and planning
a successful year of events: Chairs - John Maeglin and Marc Mayer Members - Ruth Adler, Sima Browne, Julie Ford, Joan
Golder, Randi Gurian, Jani Harris, Abby Lasky, David Ruskin,
Mitchell Slotnick and Laura Zimmerman.
Photos: All
the scribing session and Opening Ceremony photos can now
be viewed and downloaded from our Shutterfly
web page.
Funding - Torah of Our Own also served as Temple Jeremiah’s
primary fundraising activity during the 50th anniversary
celebration. Other congregations have had significant success
in raising funds as part of their Torah writing projects.
Despite the difficult economic environment, the TOO Committee
strongly believed that Torah of Our Own would be a real financial
success, and many members participated in the
project to ensure its success. Fundraising not only
paid for the Torah scroll itself, but also assisted in
funding future educational and spiritual programming.
Opening Ceremony - This well-attended, highly successful event took place the morning of October 18, 2009.
Publicity - The Torah of Our Own Project received publicity
throughout the community. See the Pioneer
Press article on
January 14, 2010 featuring this project.
Rabbi Moshe Druin led a program
on how a 3000 year old book applies to our lives in
the year 2010.
Confirmation
Ceremony & Dedication of the Torah
of Our Own
Sunday, May 23, 2010
This worship program was a culmination
to an incredible year, filled with a variety of programs
and spiritual, educational and scribing
opportunities.
Our Confirmation class led us in prayer at 10:00 am as
we dedicated our
beautiful new Torah with the Confirmands, clergy and congregants
reading from this document for the very first time. This
was followed by a gala Oneg.
A second service was held at 1:00 pm to recognize and honor the scribers and program volunteers and featured a surprise visit by the original Torah scribe, Moses himself (in an Oscar-worthy performance by our own Marc Mayer)! Following the service all were invited on the bima to view the new Torah scroll, this Torah of Our Own.
Congreants may remember that Rabbi Paul Cohen and his family scribed the very first letter in our new Torah at the Opening Ceremony (see above) in October. It was fitting that the very last letter in the Torah was scribed by Rabbi Emeritus Robert Schreibman and his wife, Patti.
Mazel Tov to the entire congregation on fulfilling the 613th commandment to write a Torah.
Dedication Opportunities
There were many levels at which congregants could support Torah
of Our Own, and no family was excluded due to financial
considerations.
Suggested dedication opportunities are outlined below.
BOOK ($18,000) - Congregants could dedicate one of the five Books of the Torah.
PASSAGES ($5,400)- Congregants could select one of the Torah’s
most meaningful verses, such as the Shema, the Ten
Commandments, the Blessing of Ephraim and Menasseh, the Song of the Sea, the
Prayer for Healing and others.
PARASHA ($3,600) - Congregants could choose a specific Torah
portion of special significance -
for instance, the portion chanted by a child as a Bar
or Bat Mitzvah.
MOSES, PATRIARCHS AND MATRIARCHS ($1080)
ALL OTHER BIBLICAL NAMES ($540) - These
included Miriam, Joseph, Adam, Dan, Joshua and others.
LETTERS - Extended Family ($360); Immediate Family ($108); Single Person ($18)
ADDITIONAL GIVING OPPORTUNITIES- Sponsorship of the Torah Dressing; Etz Chaim; Breast Plate; Torah Crowns; Yad; Torah Cover
Mission - The 613th commandment in the Torah is to “write a
Torah.” Thanks to the participation of our congregants, Temple Jeremiah's new Torah is now complete. There were many opportunities
for member families to join with the Sofer, Rabbi Moshe Druin, in actually writing
letters (scribing) in this new Torah. This was an absolutely unique experience. 
