Local synagogue to dedicate new Torah scroll on rare occasion

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - A Torah scroll will be ceremoniously inducted for ritual use by local synagogue, Chabad of The Woodlands. Sunday, January 19, will be a day of dedication and celebration.

The Torah scroll contains the five books of Moses in the original Hebrew and is read each week during prayer. With a quill and special ink, a certified scribe writes the five books scroll on roughly 54 pieces of parchment. The shape and size of each of the 304,808 letters must be perfectly written by hand.

Honoring the memory of Irving and Grace Rips, the scroll will be dedicated during a formal ceremony, and the last letters will be written by New York scribe, Rabbi Chaim Pape. A festive communal procession with live music and dancing will follow, as the Torah is escorted under a Chupah canopy through the streets to Chabad of The Woodlands Learning Center, its new home.

According to Rabbi Mendel Blecher, director of Chabad of The Woodlands, "This scroll is a very appropriate addition to the Chabad Center, as it represents the unbroken chain of Jewish tradition and survival. The ancient wisdom contained in this scroll is the essence of our identity as Jews, and possessing our own Torah is cause for great pride and celebration."

To celebrate this momentous occasion, Chabad invites the community to participate in the dedication procession, Sunday, January 19 at 2:30 p.m. which will commence at the intersection of Budde Rd and Champion Lake Dr, and end at Chabad of The Woodlands, 25823 Budde Rd. A buffet lunch, live music, Kids Torah Workshop and moon bounce concludes the event. Admission is free.

Participants are urged to make use of additional parking at Salons of The Woodlands, 25710 Budde Rd, a short walk from the parade starting point and across the street from Chabad.

For more information about this event and to participate, visit us on the web at JewishWoodlands.com/Torah or call 281-719-5213.

Chabad of The Woodlands is celebrating its third year of offering a home to?all Jews, regardless of background, affiliation or level of observance. The Chabad Learning Center hosts Shabbat and Holiday celebrations, services, classes, Aleph Champ Hebrew Enrichment, Mommy and Me, Camp Gan Israel, and many more events.