April 3, 2009 Receiving the Torah : First Hand Account

This past Friday night, I attended a wonderful celebration! There was a bride, a groom, a band, dancing, singing, and lots of food. Sounds like a wedding, right? Well, not quite. The bride was a Torah and the groom was a Chupah! Temple Beth Hillel received a Torah, fulfilling the last of the 613 Commandments of bringing a Torah into the community.

Thunderstorms threatened the festivities all throughout the day. At times, the rain was beating down pretty heavily. Miraculously, the sky cleared as people began gathering on the Glickman’s driveway. Rabbi and Mindy Glickman offered fruit and sweet potatoes to their guests. Congregants from Temple Beth Hillel mingled with members of B’Nai Jacob, the former custodians of the Torah. Both groups were joined by Imams from local mosques, a pastor from a nearby church, members of the press, and several musicians. Andrew Halpern started banging a drum, creating an instant party atmosphere. Rabbi Glickman gave everyone a preview of what was to happen and then announced that anyone who would like to blow a shofar should go with him back to the temple.

I jogged back to the Temple with the Rabbi, went into his office and selected one of his shofars. I stood outside at the entrance to the Temple with about six other shofar blowers. Rabbi Glickman turned to me and said, “Can you start us off with a blast?”

“A Tekiah?”

“No, something regal!”

So, I blew the most regal sounding blast I could muster. Then the Rabbi shouted “Tekiah Gedolah,” and Jess Edelstein produced a really long note on his shofar.

The group of us shofar blowers started walking and blowing random notes as we led the Chupah on its way to meet the Torah that was marching toward us from Rabbi’s house.

When the Chupah surrounded the Torah, the Klezmer music started. The Torah was carried by members of B’Nai Jacob while the Chupah was carried by members of Temple Beth Hillel. Once we arrived in the parking lot, we all took turns holding the Chupah while we danced around the parking lot seven times, just as in a traditional wedding ceremony while the band continued to play.

After the seventh time around, the music stopped and Michael Chernick from B’Nai Jacob officially presented the Torah to his Temple Beth Hillel cousin, Lance Chernack. The Torah was handed to President Stanley J. Goldberg of Temple Beth Hillel who then brought it into the lobby.

The festivities continued as a big circle formed around the main hall and anyone who has had a Bar or Bat Mitzvah was invited to take a turn dancing with the Torah as the Klezmer band, with Mindy joining in on the flute, continued on. Whether they rushed to the front or waited, everyone beamed as they had their turn. Everyone clapped and smiled and laughed and hugged. It actually did feel like a wedding!

Once everyone had a chance to dance with the Torah, the music stopped, temporarily, as we all entered the sanctuary for the Shabbat service. Before the service, everyone had another chance to touch the Torah. I brought it over to my mother to let her have a chance at holding it. She was thrilled to be able to participate.

Before the Shabbat candles were lit, Lynn Goldberg , President of The B’Nai Jacob Congregation, said a few words about the history of the Torah and the B’Nai Jacob congregation. Unfortunately, they were forced to merge with another congregation as a result of financial pressures.

Next there was a special ceremony where members of Temple Beth Hillel undressed and re-dressed the Torah. The term that was used repeatedly was bittersweet, and it certainly was. Rabbi Glickman mentioned how wonderful it was to have people from other faiths come to help us celebrate a uniquely Jewish ceremony.

There were so many special touches during the services that I’m sure I don’t remember all of them: the klezmer band, the choir, and the teenagers who sang all contributed to the mood of the memorable service. Cantor Mekler deserves credit for all of the music that made the event so special. When the Torah was taken out of the ark, the music played and people danced in a line around the sanctuary, a tradition that has been growing at Temple Beth Hillel. And Jordan Guida did a fabulous job reading from the Torah as she became a Bat Mitzvah.

During the service, I glanced around at the packed temple that seemed more like a High Holiday service than a typical Friday night. Everyone just looked really happy. I saw young kids and ninety year olds celebrating the really joyous occasion, smiling as they clapped their hands and tapped their feet.

The service ended and we entered the packed social hall for the Oneg. Kiddush, Motzi and an expanded selection of foods and goodies capped the evening as people gathered to share the experience.

The celebration will continue on April 24 as we read from the new Torah in Temple Beth Hillel for the first time. If you were there on April 3, you know you don’t want to miss the April 24th service. If you weren’t at the marriage ceremony, I urge you to attend Shabbat services on April 24th. You’ll be glad you did!

Jason Wasserman