‘America’s Torah’ To Travel the US

By COLlive reporter

3 months ago, R’ Yosef Raksin was brutally murdered while walking to Shul Shabbos morning while visiting his children in North Miami Beach, Florida.

During the Shiva, it was decided that a new Torah would be written in memory of the humble, friendly 60-year-old Crown Heights resident.

One of the first contributors to the new Torah scroll was a non-Jewish resident of Miami, who had been touched by the tragedy and wanted to show his support.

And so the idea was born, Raksin’s son-in-law Izzy Labkowski says, to write a Torah which would unite people of all types and all walks of life.

“We decided to gather people from all over the country, people of all backgrounds, religions, and walks of life,” says Labkowski. “Each will contribute one letter to the creation of America’s Torah. Because together as a team, our little change will make a lot of difference.”

The Torah, the writing of which was begun during a memorial marking Raksin’s Shloshim, will travel from Key West, FL to New York to San Francisco and will be completed in Washington.

America’s Torah will set up shop at schools, places of worship, community centers and anywhere there are people who care to make a difference.

Along the route, events will serve to educate and inspire in each of the four states, to teach participants about how a Torah is written, what is written in the Torah, the 7 commandments for all mankind and more. Special activities for children will take place as well.

The Torah’s first stop will be on Dec. 1, 2014. The family is currently looking for 4 bochurim to accompany the Torah and direct the programs.

For more information on purchasing letters or sponsorship opportunities, visit Americastorah.org.

Video: The Torah is begun at the Shloshim memorial