By COLlive reporter
Photos: Ron Sachs/CNP, JFNA
National leaders of the Jewish Federations of Northern America joined in inscribing letters into the historic “Washington Torah” presently being written in Washington, DC, by American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad).
The occasion was the Federation’s General Assembly (GA) at the Washington Hilton which drew thousands of Federation leaders and community activists from across the US and Canada.
“This is the first Torah ever to be written entirely within Washington, DC,” said Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Executive Vice President of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad).
“This Torah will unite thousands of Washington’s Jews as special letters are written at many of the capital’s landmarks and at occasions of communal significance,” he said, as veteran sofer Rabbi Faitel Lewin inscribed letters.
The writing of the Torah was initiated by American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) as part of the “Year of Hakhel” and is expected to completed within this year, in accordance with the Rebbe’s directive that the spirit of Hakhel continue beyond the year of Hakhel itself.
Honored with writing letters were the Federation’s President and CEO Jerry Silverman, Chairman Board of Trustees Richard Sandler, Treasurer Jodi Schwartz, Domestic Policy Chair David Butler, Ms. Dede Feinberg, Chair, Executive Committee, JFNA and Mrs. Cindy Shapira, Vice Chair of Board of Trustees and Co-Chair, 2016 GA.
They were also joined by Eric Goldstein, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New York, NY; and Lee Wunch, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, Texas.
An honor to join @IDFfan in writing a letter in a Torah at #JFNAGA. Thank you @ShemtovDC for the mitzvah opportunity! pic.twitter.com/aOOg79r4Pv
— William Daroff (@Daroff) November 15, 2016
Real kiddush HaShem!
May you go mechayil el choyil!!!
Chazzak!
Mazel Tov Simchas and Nachas