The introduction of a Torah scroll – ‘Sefer Torah’ is a solemn ceremony in which a new book, in the form of a hand-written scroll, is completed, or for a Torah book that is transferred from one synagogue to another.
In the case of a new Torah book introduction, the ceremony begins with solemn writing of the last few letters in the book at the donor’s place, to be continued in a festivity procession, accompanied by music, singing, and dancing, from the donor’s house to the synagogue.
During the procession, the Torah scroll, decorated with the Torah Crown, is carried by different celebrates while above it they also hold a four-pole canopy. It is customary to honor important people among the celebrating public – and of course the Tora Scroll donor – in holding the Torah scroll and dancing with it.
Sol Teichman Legacy Sefer Torah
Emek Hebrew Academy Teichman Family Torah Center has commissioned a brand new Sefer Torah in honor of the late Mr. Sol Teichman. This Legacy Sefer Torah is a tribute Sol Teichman, the Emek School’s Patriarch and one of its founding fathers.
The Torah Scroll Dedication Ceremony took place on September 25, 2019, at the Emek Academy grounds.
About late Sol Teichman
Sol Teichman, born in 1927 in Munkacs, then the commercial capital of the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine, underwent Nazi persecution and lost most of his family during World War Two. After the war, Sol set sail to America, where he met Ruth, his future wife. With their success in business, the Teichman team couple devoted their life to helping Jewish organizations in Los Angeles and throughout the world. However, Sol’s close to heart life mission was to bring to a focal point what was personally stolen from him and millions of other Jews by the accursed Nazis: Jewish Education.
With the establishment of the Emek School Sol Teichman achieved his objective to give as many Jewish children a Jewish education.
I met Ruth and Sol Teichman at the end of the year 2013.
I could not but express my unpublished impression of them, which I titled: ‘Jewish Education to Preserve the Jewish Nation.’
“For well over 30 years Sol Teichman, a Holocaust survivor, has been the Chairman of the Board of Emek Hebrew Academy Teichman Family Torah Center. Mr. Teichman has found the Yeshiva over 50 years ago with the first four students. Today the academy educates some 600 children from kindergarten to 8th grade. The Teichmans’ own children, their extended family and friends’ children graduated from the Emek Academy.”
“Jewish education is very important to Ruth and Sol Teichman. Though they are orthodox Jews, they support any education program through which the students learn Jewish values.”
EMEK Emek Hebrew Academy Teichman Family Torah Center’s Mission
EMEK Academy is located in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood, Los Angeles County, California.
Dedicated to academic challenges and strong traditional Jewish education, the academy provides a comprehensive, well-balanced curriculum, in both Torah and required secular studies.
The academy’s, operating in the most modern architecture venue, offers serious and warm learning atmosphere, all conducive to its success. It empowers its students to be able to go out into the world with an unwavering devotion to living a moral and ethical life, loving their Jewish identity, while serving as a committed community member.
Upon graduating, the students are equipped with the critical thinking skills needed for success in any life path they choose, from high school onward.
The Emek Academy is largely funded by scholarships to make up the difference in tuition. According to late Sol Teichman, to whom I took a great liking, the school board of 20 members makes sure that the wonderful and dedicated staff are well-taken care and salaries are never delayed. This assures a reciprocal devotion to education that has created a well-deserved much accolades school.
The joyous introduction of a Torah scroll-Sefer Torah ceremony is all about internalizing the word of God, Judaism, and the eternity of the Jewish People and the state of Israel.
