Jewish Press of Pinellas County

Chabad of Clearwater celebrates completion of new Torah


A musician known as Boris & Sax leads the procession under a chuppah with Brian Stulman carrying the newly completed Torah and Rabbi Levi Hodakov clapping along with the music.

A musician known as Boris & Sax leads the procession under a chuppah with Brian Stulman carrying the newly completed Torah and Rabbi Levi Hodakov clapping along with the music.

A crowd of about 150 gathered on Tuesday, May 31 at Chabad Center of Clearwater to celebrate the completion of a new Sefer Torah for Chabad of Clearwater.

The event took place on Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5782, the 3334th anniversary of the Jewish people reaching Mount Sinai in preparation for receiving the Torah from G-d, said Rabbi Levi Hodakov, leader of Chabad of Clearwater.

The Torah was dedicated to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

Rabbi Dovid Shushan, a sofer from Crown Heights, NY, flew in especially for the event. He assisted guests in inscribing the final letters of the Torah. When the ink on the new Torah dried, the Torah was lifted and then “dressed” with the special belt mantle and silver crown.

After a procession with live music, torches and flags, the crowd filed back into the Tabacinic Chabad Center for the joyous Hakafot. A dinner followed.

Addressing the crowd at the celebration, Rabbi Hodakov said, “The Torah isn’t just a historical narrative, the Torah you see here is our manual, a user’s guide for how to live a wholesome Jewish life.”

Emily Cohen, holding daughter Galya, and husband Kfir, seated, look on as Rabbi Dovid Shushan, the sofer, inscribes one of the final letters of the new Torah. Photos by: Douglas R. Clifford

Emily Cohen, holding daughter Galya, and husband Kfir, seated, look on as Rabbi Dovid Shushan, the sofer, inscribes one of the final letters of the new Torah. Photos by: Douglas R. Clifford

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