New Torah Dedicated in Memory of Valley Shliach

Last Sunday evening, on the eve of Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar Alef, a new Sefer Torah was dedicated to Chabad of Woodland Hills, CA.

The Torah was dedicated by the Gabbai Family in memory of Rabbi Yehoshua Binyomin Gordon obm, father of the shliach in Woodland Hills, Rabbi Yossi Gordon. Rabbi Yehoshua Binyomin Gordon was the Head Shliach of the Fernando Valley for over forty years, and his shiurim on Chumash, Tanya, and Rambam are listened to by thousands of Jews daily.

Chof Tes Shevat was the sixth yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yehoshua Binyomin Gordon. Exactly a year earlier, on the fifth yahrtzeit, the community had begun writing the sefer Torah. The community gathered in the Chabad house for a beautiful event, and all in attendance had the Zechus to write the opening letters together with Hasofer Rabbi Yosef Teitelbaum. Then the Torah continued being written, organized by Rabbi Moshe Klein from Hasofer. Throughout the year many participated by sponsoring the Seforim, Parshiyos, and special Pesukkim in the new sefer. After much help and perseverance, the Torah was completed and ready to be celebrated in its new home! An incredible celebration was planned in order to enter the sixth yahrzeit with a new Torah and aliyas neshama.

The event began in the Shliach, Rabbi Yossi Gordon’s home. All the sponsors came to write the final letters in the Torah with their families, say l’chaim, and participate in the completion of the Torah. Rabbi Y.B. Gordon’s wife and children, together with friends and family of the community flooded the house, and the excitement began to fill the crowd. A lively procession of over 100 jews danced with the Torah to the Chabad house. With very lively music and celebration the Torah arrived in the shul, where Ata Haraisa pessukim were said and everybody danced Hakafos.

The Simchas Torah feeling in the air overtook everybody, and the shul was filled to capacity with Jews dancing, spilling outside of the shul. After all the music and dancing finished, the three sons of Rabbi Y.B. Gordon had minyonim for ma’ariv and said kaddish. After davening everybody sat down to a lavish Seudas Mitzva in a beautiful tent outside. At the meal, Rabbi Yossi Gordon shared a few words, and a special announcement was made. He told the community that there would be a new Shliach moving to town, which was met with much enthusiasm and excitement. As the evening concluded everybody left inspired and in appreciation for this tremendous milestone accomplished in Woodland Hills, CA.

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