Photos: Chaim Tuito
Design and production: Tzvaim Productions
The completion of the 7th Sefer Torah written in the merit of children around the world was celebrated Thursday, Chof Av at the Kotel in Jerusalem, with joyous dancing and music by Nemouel and Avi Avidani.
The Children’s Sefer Torah campaign is a unique unity campaign initiated, launched and promoted by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1981.
The first Torah initiated by the Rebbe was finalized on Chof Av, 5741 (1981) at the Kotel in Jerusalem.
Exactly 40 years later, the seventh Torah scroll was finished in the same place, and thousands gathered at the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem to celebrate its completion. Honored guests included Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar and Shluchim from around Israel.
The objective of the campaign is to unite all Jewish children under the age of Bar and Bat Mitzvah in a special Sefer Torah, by having each child buy his or her own letter in this unity Torah, which is written and kept in the Old City of Jerusalem, in close proximity to the Kotel.
The Rebbe spoke on many occasions about the value and special power of this Torah:
On Shabbos Parshas Balak 5741 the Rebbe said that he requests “in every term of asking and pleading, in all ten terminologies of prayer and beseeching, that everyone should register Jewish children in the Sefer Torah.”
Similarly, the Rebbe said that this campaign is a “most important, crucial, necessary, and essential matter.”
The campaign has been directed by Rabbi Shmuel Greisman since its inception in 5741 (1981). As we get ready to complete the 7th Sefer Torah, this is your opportunity to participate in this campaign and the expenses involved with the dedication ceremony. The Rebbe was personally involved in every detail of this Mivtza, including the questions of how much to charge for a letter, how to approach the children, and what to do with children who were (then) behind the Iron Curtain. The Rebbe also personally designed the certificate which is sent to every child and the mantle of the Torah.
We don’t know all of the spiritual miracles connected to this campaign, but one of them we know for sure: Shortly before the Israeli Air Force bombed the nuclear reactor in Iraq, before Shavuos 5741, the Rebbe pressed the organizers to get a list of all the children that were registered before Shavuos.
Many times the Rebbe asked children in Yechidus if they have a letter, and the Rebbe also connected this Sefer Torah with blessings for those involved; often suggesting that people buy a letter for their children when in need of special blessing.
Especially in these challenging times, let us remember the Posuk the Rebbe has connected with this campaign:
“וּבָעֵת הַהִיא יַעֲמֹד מִיכָאֵל הַשַּׂר הַגָּדוֹל הָעֹמֵד עַל בְּנֵי עַמֶּךָ וְהָיְתָה עֵת צָרָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא נִהְיְתָה מִהְיוֹת גּוֹי עַד הָעֵת הַהִיא וּבָעֵת הַהִיא יִמָּלֵט עַמְּךָ כָּל הַנִּמְצָא כָּתוּב בַּסֵּפֶר”. (דניאל יב א)
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