Chabad of Cobb Celebrates 4th Torah
Dedicated in memory of Rick Faber, the "kindness Torah" is small enough for children and the elderly to carry.
Sarah Moosazadeh is a staff writer for the Atlanta Jewish Times.
Live music, dancing and community ties brought family and friends together to celebrate the inauguration of Chabad of Cobb’s fourth Torah on Sunday, March 26.
The Torah was dedicated in memory of Rick Faber, late husband of Sheila Faber, and their loved ones gathered from near and far for the occasion.
The privilege of helping sofer Rabbi Moshe Klein write the last three letters was auctioned off among attendees, including Cindy and Harvey Ruback, who wrote a letter in honor of Harvey’s parents.
Rabbi Ephraim Silverman called this scroll the “kindness Torah,” explaining that it is smaller and lighter than the congregation’s other Torahs in recognition of Rick Faber’s kindness throughout the community. The scroll can be handled by small children and the elderly and can be easily taken around the area, as when people visit family members in nursing homes.
“A Torah will live forever, as I hope Rick’s memory will,” Sheila Faber said.
After the Torah was completed and dried, people poured out of Chabad of Cobb onto Lower Roswell Road for a grand Torah parade escorted by Cobb County police.
Children and adults alike rushed to catch up with Rabbi Silverman as they took turns dancing with the Torah under a traveling chuppah. Israeli songs livened the atmosphere.
The dancing continued back at the synagogue with the traditional blessing of the new scroll.
The first reading of the Torah took place the next day, the 29th of Adar, which happens to be Faber’s yahrzeit.
“The new Torah is an opportunity to not only honor and bring the family and community together, but also serves as a way to give back to the community,” family member Lindsay Barnette said.
Rabbi Silverman expressed his gratitude for the occasion. “Today unites us with all the Jewish people,” he said. “The Torah is the one thing that all the Jewish people share, and bringing in a new Torah unites us within the community.”
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- Rabbi Zalman Charytan, who leads Chabad of West Cobb, lends a hand to the sofer, Rabbi Moshe Klein.
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- One of the Cobb County police protecting the parade kisses the new Torah at the urging of Rabbi Moshe Klein.
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- In front of the Torah and the chuppah, Noah Pawliger carries a living wonder along Lower Roswell Road.
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- Rabbi Ephraim Silverman’s son demonstrates that the new “kindness Torah” is kid-friendly.
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- Rabbi Ephraim Silverman discusses how, unintentionally, the dedication of the Torah coincides with the yahrzeit of Rick Faber.
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- Rabbi Ephraim Silverman and Mitchell Kopelman are among those dancing in the street to celebrate the new Torah.
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- Rabbi Ephraim Silverman leads a procession while blessing the new “kindness Torah.”
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- The Torah ceremony at Chabad of Cobb unites the generations.
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- The hagba lifts and displays the newly completed Torah at Chabad of Cobb
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- Rabbi Moshe Klein works on the final words of the new Chabad of Cobb Torah.
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- Rabbi Ephraim Silverman leads the street dancing.
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- Rabbi Moshe Klein gets some help with one of the final letters of the Torah.
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