Jerusalem Community Celebrates הכנסת ספר תורה with Leading Rabbis in Attendance
A remarkable spiritual development has been taking shape in the new Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Jerusalem. In recent years, a strong and high-quality communal core has been built there, drawing families of Torah-observant men who work for a living. This week, that momentum reached a historic milestone, with the first הכנסת ספר תורה, Torah scroll dedication ceremony, at the “Bar Yitzchak” synagogue, in cooperation with the organization “Chalkei BeKehilati.”
The local community, which now unites more than 80 families and at least 100 worshippers, presents a unique model of cohesive communal life and remarkable unity around Torah study and service of God. The most prominent feature of the place is its spirit of partnership and social solidarity, as all the groups learn and pray together, shoulder to shoulder, מתוך a shared aspiration for spiritual elevation.
The Torah scroll was carried out in song and dance from the home of Rabbi Meir Frumer, who initiated and established the community יחד עם Rabbi Ephraim Zecharia. The festive procession marched toward the synagogue, which is currently housed in a temporary tent structure in the courtyard of the Zecharia family home on Rabbi Shach Street in new Ramat Shlomo. After the dancing and the recitation of psalms, the Torah scroll was placed in the Holy Ark to the singing of “S’u She’arim Roshichem.”
The honored guests at the event were the Chief Rabbi, Rabbi David Lau, and Rabbi Yehuda Breitkopf of the rabbis of Jerusalem’s Har Nof neighborhood and Av Beit Din in the Diaspora. Lau shared an interesting detail with those present, saying that each day he is privileged to look from the balcony of his home in the nearby Ramot neighborhood toward the impressive development of the new community. In his emotional remarks, Rabbi Lau spoke about the essence of true unity around the Torah and called for the removal of artificial barriers: “Inside, we all begin with ‘Bereshit,’ everyone has the Ten Commandments, we are all equal.” The Chief Rabbi praised the wonderful connection taking place in the study hall, where everyone draws together from the same well.
Rabbi Yehuda Breitkopf then spoke. He also serves as the rabbi of the organization “Chalkei BeKehilati,” which accompanies the place closely through his classes and advice. In his remarks, Rabbi Breitkopf emphasized the supreme importance of setting fixed and steady times for Torah study as an unchanging rule that should not be altered, God forbid, by the demands of daily life. He added that the meaning of the Mishnah, “Make your Torah fixed and your work temporary,” is measured not only by the amount of time but mainly by one’s mental and value-based attitude toward Torah. He praised the community members, who are privileged to take part in Torah classes and activities throughout the week, and called on public representatives to act quickly to provide them with a proper and orderly permanent place for prayer and Torah.
Rabbi Eliahu Meir Feivelzon, head of the “P’tachei Olam” institutions and one of the community leaders, also spoke and warmly thanked the important Kellerman family for their generous donation of the Torah scroll, as well as the hosts who cleared space from their private property for the temporary prayer site. Also participating in the impressive ceremony were additional rabbis among the local worshippers, including Rabbi Ovadia Chazan, head of the “Lev Eliyahu” yeshiva, Rabbi Daniel Glik, Rabbi Moshe Zecharia, head of the “Derech Torah” yeshiva, and Rabbi Israel Meir Zvichi, head of the “Tiferet Yonatan Yehoshua” yeshiva.
