Parsha Beha’aloscha 5767 — Hachnasat Sefer Torah in Yishuv Adura and HaKaras HaTov

Preceding these posukim are the posukim which speak about the journey of the Aron and of B’nai Yisrael from Har Sinai to their next resting place, “…a three day distance…” (Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 10, posukim 33 & 34).

Many commentators speak of the section delineated by the inverted “nuns” as a separation between the aveirot of B’nai Yisrael so as to not bring about a Chazaka (recording of three Jewish sins in succession).

But in writing this Parsha HaShevua, this year, this week, we’ll dispense with discussion of the inverted “nuns”.

On the occasion of the official installation of a Sefer Torah in the Aron HaKodesh in Yishuv Adura, I want to relate only to the “VaYi’he Binso’a HaAron V’Yomer Moshe” and it’s allusions to Sefer Devarim and Moshe Rabbeinu’s recounting of the travels through Bamidbar shortly before his passing and just before the B’nai Yisrael entered Eretz Yisrael.

And as Moshe Rabbeinu reflected upon the events in Bamidbar over the previous 40 years in the mussar of Devarim, I am reflective this week over the events of the past 2 years and particularly the chronology since December, 2006 when we seriously undertook securing, fund raising for and placing this Sefer Torah with the Kehillah of Yishuv Adura. There are many steps to this story, too numerous to relate here.

There is much HaKaras HaTov to go around; many people to thank amongst those who attended, many of you with us today donated funds and in other ways helped bring this project to fruition. There are too many donor thank yous to list here — to do so would be stand here speaking long after everyone has left. Just please know that this project, this mission doesn’t get accomplished by one person. Everyone who helped; by way of donations, by way of processing donations both here and in Chutz l’Aretz, by way Soferus and Rabbinic advice, by way of acquisition and repair of the Sefer Torah, by helping with publicity, by planning transportation, by those here at Yishuv Adura who planned out and facilitated this joyous event all have a parsha in it.

There are, however, a number of people who I want to single out for public thanks.

I want to give special thanks to Yuval Shoshani and to Moshe and Ada Becker who have become wonderful friends and with whom I enjoyed a memorable Shabbat a few weeks ago and with whom I hope to spend many more Shabbatim. I want to thank Reuven Tal of Moetsa Har Chevron for working with me regarding donations which flowed through the Moetsa’s Sief 46 and for providing one of the buses for this event. Many thanks to my chaver Aryeh Sonnenberg — bus logistics person extraordinaire, to Rosh Ha’Ir Sagan Mi’Beit Shemesh Reb Shalom Lerner who saw to defraying the cost of a second bus. Deepest thanks and appreciation as well to Rav Chaim Zev Malinowitz for his sound advice at stages of this project, to Rav Kalman Shapiro, the Piaseczna Rebbe and to Rav Chaim Soloveichik who was unable to be with us today; all of whom have been solid supporters of the Sefer Torah Recycling Network for a number of years now. Special thanks also to Matt Bornstein who helped me in organizing and printing out the publicity flyer for this event as well as publicizing it by way of the Shul’s email list.

Thanks go to Ephrayim Naiman, the Choir Director and all of the young men of the Kol B’Rama choir who are providing wonderful music for this event. And many thanks to to the Peretz’s at Mishmeret Kedusha in Ge’ula with whom I have developed a kesher through 2 acquisitions of Sifrei Torah, one of which is being installed today in Yishuv Adura.

May we, the B’nai Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently settled and be made totally whole, that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard and the 3 captive Chayalim and the other MIAs be liberated and returned to us and that we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nai Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Yom Hashem V’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bim hay v’yameinu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!