I love these events, the vibrancy, the music ripping the air with sound, the flashing lights rending the darkness

The lights appeared two weeks before, spanning the parking lot and spilling out along the road. Then came the notices, “Hachnassas Sefer Torah” on every pillar. I love these events, the vibrancy, the music ripping the air with sound, the flashing lights rending the darkness, the pristine sefer Torah just starting its life like a newborn taking its first breaths. I couldn’t wait!

When the day arrived and the minute the music began to blare from the van, I was out there, in the freezing wind — yes, we do have winter in Israel — wrapped in my down coat, one of the first to arrive. As I watched, mothers clutching the hands of little boys disappeared into the building to see the nascent sefer Torah, perhaps even write a letter.