Bellmore Jewish Center celebrates 50th anniversary

It is described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience — the chance to write a Torah, Judaism’s founding ethical and legal text, found in the five Books of Moses. That was what the Congregation Ohr Zarua of the Bellmore Jewish Center did to mark its 50th anniversary.

Nearly 500 people turned out to celebrate the Torah’s completion. The day began early last Sunday morning, with about 70 families joining the scribe to write the final letters. The writing of the Torah was a nearly two-year-long process, Rabbi Avraham Rabinowich said.

Lee Weisbord, whose husband, Joseph, was the chairman of the committee that brought the Torah to the Bellmore Jewish Center, said it took time to find the right sofer, or scribe, to write the Torah. It was important to find the right sofer ,she said, because "writing a Torah is considered a mitzvah," a celebration.

Being able to write the final letters in the Torah was a special experience for local families, Rabinowich said. “It was finished by our people, the people in our community,” he said. “Men, women, children all took part in that.”

When the final family wrote its letter, a celebratory parade began. It kicked off at the Bellmore firehouse on Newbridge Road and ended at the steps of the Jewish center. The parade was a joyous event that included a float, live music and hundreds of celebrating community members.

When the Torah returned to the Jewish Center, the final five letters were written and the dedication took place. Community members also had a chance to take part in the celebration and dance with the Torah. “It was a wonderful event, everybody loved it — it was very moving, spiritual and inspiring,” Rabinowich said. “It brought the community together.”

This is the eighth Torah to come to the Jewish Center. It joins one that survived the Holocaust and was sent over from Europe. Yet this newest Torah remains unique and special to the community, Rabinowich said. “What’s special about this one is that this is a Torah that we created ourselves,” he said. “It’s a Torah for our future.”

People young and old joined in the celebration. Rabinowich said that this is the Torah children will look forward to reading at their bar mitzvahs. “This is one of a kind, this is number one,” he concluded. “This is so special because it’s the one that we created.”

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