Dancing Through the Tears
Two Heart of New Jersey synagogues—Congregations Ohav Emeth and B’nai Israel— are part of a global initiative to memorialize Israelis who were murdered or died fighting on Simchat Torah and beyond.
The Simchat Torah Project, led by Mizrachi-United Kingdom, a religious Zionist organization, offers commemorative Torah scroll covers embroidered with the flag of Israel and Star of David, along with the familiar words, written in Hebrew from Ecclesiastes, “There is a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
The back of the cover displays in Hebrew the name and description of a civilian or soldier killed in the war with Hamas.
Simchat Torah is Hebrew for “the joy of Torah.” It is a celebration often accompanied by dancing and singing, to mark the completion of its annual reading.
The Simchat Torah holiday will be forever marred by the Oct. 7 massacre, said Alicia Post, executive director of Religious Zionists of America- Mizrachi in New York City.
The Simchat Torah Project addresses that reality. “We were trying to do a meaningful project for Simchat Torah, one that honors the lives lost and also recognizing that it’s still a holiday,” Post said.
Initially for synagogues connected to the Mizrachi movement, the calls for Torah mantles came in from all denominations—1,600 so far. “So many people got involved and really were able to participate in this project,” Post said.
Rabbi Ken Brodkin of B’nai Israel in Manalapan heard about the Torah mantles and thought “it would be really valuable for people to have a way of connecting to the Oct. 7 martyrs on Simchat Torah. This anniversary was such a heavy day, but we still wanted it to be infused with the simcha shel mitzvah”—the Jewish concept that refers to the joy that should be experienced when fulfilling a mitzvah, or commandment.
“It gave focus for people to be able to acknowledge the pain, but also connect it to the simcha (joy) of Simchat Torah,” Brodkin said.
Each cover calls for an $1,800 donation to Mizrachi-UK, where the project is based. Chief Executive Rabbi Andrew Shaw started the Simchat Torah Project. He said as part of the project representatives of Jewish communities can come to Israel to meet families of the victim.
B’nai Israel received their Torah cover at the last minute. It was delivered to the wrong address, an hour away. Mizrachi paid to have it overnighted from London in time for Simchat Torah on Oct. 25 this year. “They really went out of the way to make sure we got one,” Brodkin said.
The Torah cover for B’nai Israel memorializes Liav Alush who died in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023 at age 21. He is described as a dedicated and fearless soldier who served in the elite Duvdevan unit of the IDF’s Commando Brigade.
Brodkin showed it to congregants during the service and explained the meaning behind it. “People definitely connected to it and they appreciated being part of a larger event going on in the Jewish world.”
Gloria Deutsch and Georgia London are two members of Ohav Emeth in Highland Park who coordinated the Simchat Torah Project.
Deutsch said she and London saw the Torah mantles advertised last summer. They consulted with the rabbi and synagogue president who liked the idea. The two women had a short window of time to raise the money for the scroll cover to be delivered by Simchat Torah.
“Our shul was very anxious to participate. We had many, many donors,” Deutsch said.
They made a special request to honor a fallen soldier with ties to Edison/Highland Park. Elisha Lowenstern was eight years old when his family made aliyah from New Jersey.
On December 13, 2023, the Israeli army sent a tank to rescue several soldiers who were wounded in southern Gaza. Hamas hit the tank with an anti-tank guided missile. Master Sgt. (res.) Rabbi Elisha Loewenstern, a 38-year-old American-Israeli reservist, was killed. He left behind his wife Hadas and their six children, as well as his parents and siblings.
“We’re just devastated, of course,” Deutsch said. “How do you dance and be joyous and happy on Simchat Torah when such a horrible tragedy struck? That’s what drew us to the idea of doing something special for that special time.”
To learn more about the Simchat Torah Project, visit thesimchattorahproject.org.
Ellen Braunstein is a contributing writer to Jlife Magazine.
