All Because of One Letter Inspiring personal accounts of Torah scribing.

Janet Gendelman - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, MI Our family scribed the letter Pei. It was such a special experience. The rabbi was amazing and engaged our kids beautifully. He spoke of the letter, its meaning and how special it would be when my kids would have the chance to read from the same torah at their bar/bat mitzvahs. We feel very lucky to have been able to participate in this truly unique event. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Carol Lawson - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, MI Samekh - Yosef Chapter 50 Verse 26 Book Breisheet - Genesis Our scribe explained a little about himself and how long he has been a scribe. Next he explained our letter and where it came from and what it meant. The experience was very humbling and we felt very blessed that we could participate in scribing a new letter in our new Torah. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Elaine Greenberg - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield MI Yud - It was a very emotional and moving experience for my husband and I. The whole ceremony was beautifully planned and brought tears to our eyes. We were so glad there was a box of Kleenex on each table. We were honored to be part of the experience and would recommend that every individual should partake in the ritual. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Paula Korelitz - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield MI Dalet - especially memorable to us because the scribe told us the word we were helping to write had to do with memory and this was such a memorable experience. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Pamela Garron - Congregation Rodeph Sholom - Tampa, FL Our family has the letter vav. I've been an active member of our Torah Writing Committee. Our family's scribing experience was important to me so that my family could see and experience first-hand what our committee's time and efforts were being put into - a legacy that our congregation will enjoy for generations to come. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Rick Cowdrey - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield MI I wrote the letter Vav in the word V'yehi, Chapter 1, Verse 3, in the Book of Genesis (Breisheet). As a recent Convert to Judaism, this scribing experience was especially meaningful to me as a new Jew. I was joined that day by my friends who have chosen Judaism as well, and we all participated in the scribing together. The day of the scribing was a very sunny day, and given the context of the verse "let there be light", it was quite fitting. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– James Gottfurcht - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan Emotional ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Irving Friedman - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan A time in my life that will always glow in my heart. The day could not have been more perfect from start to end . A lasting thought. Just one letter!!!!!! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Vickie Kimler - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan As a recently converted Jew, this experience took to light a rare opportunity to write into, let alone barely even read the Torah, in the language of its inception, Hebrew. The Sofer explained the meaning of current Parshah, that the words would construct, and the word that the vav would build. The complexity yet tangibility that the Torah exudes makes it almost multidimensional with soul gripping and awakening or soothing meditations. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Margi and Harry Weinhaus - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan Not knowing exactly what to expect, we found this experience to be deeply meaningful. It gave us an opportunity to be part of the history of this Torah and of our temple. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Carol Israel - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan The whole experience was very moving and enlightening. I have done this before but this experience was special because of the way the educational stations were set up and the opportunity to participate further without pressure left us with a very warm feeling. Wrote the letter Shin, which is meaningful as it starts the word shalom. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Barbara Berger - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan It was a very educational and meaningful experience. We were very impressed with how organized the entire experience was and what a wonderful learning experience it was. The volunteer that was our guide was great and made sure we went to all the necessary stations. The Sofer was wonderful and explained everything and was able to make it very meaningful for us. It was an experience we will always remember. The letter we wrote was a "nun" and this was meaningful because it is the letter that starts the word neshuma which means soul. My husband and I were dedicating our letter in memory of both sets of parents. The memory of their souls will be inscribed through the letter we wrote in the Torah. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Carolyn Normandin - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan Remarkable. Simply remarkable. I wrote a Kauph. The scribe talked about a great many things, but one thing I remember is about using my mouth to speak well of others instead of tearing them down. This was particularly meaningful becuase of things going on in my life. LOVED it. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Fran White - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan As usual, the experience Don Stein and I had was absolutely ""wonderful."" Temple Israel did a first class job of making everyone comfortable and teaching us information in an enjoyable way. Thank you Temple Israel!" ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Gail Katz - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan Very meaningful. We enjoyed listening to Rabbi Salazar talk to us about the Torah passage and the letter we were able to fill in. I especially enjoyed thinking about my orthodox grandfather Aron Giinsberg (of blessed memory) as I filled in the letter. This would have meant so much to him. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Jeff Rubin - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan A truly wonderful experience we shared with our kids, my parents, and my mother in law. It is fascinating to think we will be a part of history with the Torah being scribed that will be seen by generations from now until eternity. Thank you so very very much. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Paula Menuck - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan This experience made us feel like we were part of history. We thought it was well put together and a real learning experience. We were very impressed by the whole thing and glad we were able to be a part of it. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Shelley Meltzer - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan Our family felt honored and grateful to be able to have this experience together. The timing comes when we are celebrating beginnings and endings in our family. Both of our children are graduating from High School and college respectively and will begin their next chapters in their life story. It seems wonderfully significant that we were given the Hebrew letter "raysh", whose meaning can be attributed to beginnings and endings. Our "raysh" fell in the middle of the Hebrew word "Yisrael"... the name of our people and our Temple where we and many others celebrate and honor personal beginnings, endings and everything in the middle! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Donna Diem - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan I really loved it. It was amazing. I learned so much that I did not know. Writing a letter was so worth the pleasure. Thank you for letting me do it. I wrote the letter yud in Yitchack. My sons hebrew name is Yitchak and I was hoping to get a letter in his name or my other ones who is Chaim. It meant the world to get the first letter in my son's hebrew name. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Stefanie Steinberg - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan We really enjoyed our experience. My 9 year old son and I learned I learned a lot of interesting things things along our path of this experience. This was one of the most amazing things I learned. I had gone through hebrew school, had a Bas Mitvah, confirmation and graduated from religious school and did not realize that each letter had a meaning. We had the Quf, a Nd it was very meaningful to me since I sometimes struggle to consistantly connect to god and it is a great reminder to my son. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Lynn Wiener - Temple Judea - Coral Gables, Florida Rabbi Selwyn was a delight. he welcomed us, showed us and taught us about "our" Hebrew letter, aleph, in an insightful and engaging manner. he truly included us in the process and made it extraordinarily special and incredibly memorable. we wished we had taped our conversation! Our letter was aleph, the 1st letter of the alphabet with a meaning of oneness and unity. this was our 1st time writing in the torah and we did this together as a family. we learned aleph is connected to many words in the torah and is actually a vov connected by two yodhs. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Jodi Miranda - Temple Judea - Coral Gables, Florida We decided to participate in the sofer experience as a way to commemorate our daughter's preschool graduation from the Margaux Early Childhood School at Temple Judea. It way exceeded my expectations and I felt the letter that the Rabbi chose for us couldn't have been more perfect. He engaged my daughter in conversation and really got her excited about the mitzvah of restoring the Torah. The letter chosen for us by the Rabbi was "mem", the only letter the begins and ends the same. The Rabbi asked my daughter what words might start with "mem" and she chose Mitzvah. She had chosen for her 5th birthday to collect donations for JAFCO instead of receiving gifts for herself, as a mitzvah so this was a great letter for her. He spoke about how the letter "mem", with it beginning and ending the same showed us that we too need to be the same, inside and out in what we believe, say and show the world. It was truly a wonderful experience to be a part of.

All Because of One Letter Inspiring personal accounts of Torah scribing.

Janet Gendelman - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, MI Our family scribed the letter Pei. It was such a special experience. The rabbi was amazing and engaged our kids beautifully. He spoke of the letter, its meaning and how special it would be when my kids would have the chance to read from the same torah at their bar/bat mitzvahs. We feel very lucky to have been able to participate in this truly unique event. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Carol Lawson - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, MI Samekh - Yosef Chapter 50 Verse 26 Book Breisheet - Genesis Our scribe explained a little about himself and how long he has been a scribe. Next he explained our letter and where it came from and what it meant. The experience was very humbling and we felt very blessed that we could participate in scribing a new letter in our new Torah. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Elaine Greenberg - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield MI Yud - It was a very emotional and moving experience for my husband and I. The whole ceremony was beautifully planned and brought tears to our eyes. We were so glad there was a box of Kleenex on each table. We were honored to be part of the experience and would recommend that every individual should partake in the ritual. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Paula Korelitz - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield MI Dalet - especially memorable to us because the scribe told us the word we were helping to write had to do with memory and this was such a memorable experience. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Pamela Garron - Congregation Rodeph Sholom - Tampa, FL Our family has the letter vav. I've been an active member of our Torah Writing Committee. Our family's scribing experience was important to me so that my family could see and experience first-hand what our committee's time and efforts were being put into - a legacy that our congregation will enjoy for generations to come. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Rick Cowdrey - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield MI I wrote the letter Vav in the word V'yehi, Chapter 1, Verse 3, in the Book of Genesis (Breisheet). As a recent Convert to Judaism, this scribing experience was especially meaningful to me as a new Jew. I was joined that day by my friends who have chosen Judaism as well, and we all participated in the scribing together. The day of the scribing was a very sunny day, and given the context of the verse "let there be light", it was quite fitting. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– James Gottfurcht - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan Emotional ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Irving Friedman - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan A time in my life that will always glow in my heart. The day could not have been more perfect from start to end . A lasting thought. Just one letter!!!!!! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Vickie Kimler - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan As a recently converted Jew, this experience took to light a rare opportunity to write into, let alone barely even read the Torah, in the language of its inception, Hebrew. The Sofer explained the meaning of current Parshah, that the words would construct, and the word that the vav would build. The complexity yet tangibility that the Torah exudes makes it almost multidimensional with soul gripping and awakening or soothing meditations. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Margi and Harry Weinhaus - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan Not knowing exactly what to expect, we found this experience to be deeply meaningful. It gave us an opportunity to be part of the history of this Torah and of our temple. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Carol Israel - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan The whole experience was very moving and enlightening. I have done this before but this experience was special because of the way the educational stations were set up and the opportunity to participate further without pressure left us with a very warm feeling. Wrote the letter Shin, which is meaningful as it starts the word shalom. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Barbara Berger - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan It was a very educational and meaningful experience. We were very impressed with how organized the entire experience was and what a wonderful learning experience it was. The volunteer that was our guide was great and made sure we went to all the necessary stations. The Sofer was wonderful and explained everything and was able to make it very meaningful for us. It was an experience we will always remember. The letter we wrote was a "nun" and this was meaningful because it is the letter that starts the word neshuma which means soul. My husband and I were dedicating our letter in memory of both sets of parents. The memory of their souls will be inscribed through the letter we wrote in the Torah. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Carolyn Normandin - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan Remarkable. Simply remarkable. I wrote a Kauph. The scribe talked about a great many things, but one thing I remember is about using my mouth to speak well of others instead of tearing them down. This was particularly meaningful becuase of things going on in my life. LOVED it. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Fran White - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan As usual, the experience Don Stein and I had was absolutely ""wonderful."" Temple Israel did a first class job of making everyone comfortable and teaching us information in an enjoyable way. Thank you Temple Israel!" ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Gail Katz - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan Very meaningful. We enjoyed listening to Rabbi Salazar talk to us about the Torah passage and the letter we were able to fill in. I especially enjoyed thinking about my orthodox grandfather Aron Giinsberg (of blessed memory) as I filled in the letter. This would have meant so much to him. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Jeff Rubin - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan A truly wonderful experience we shared with our kids, my parents, and my mother in law. It is fascinating to think we will be a part of history with the Torah being scribed that will be seen by generations from now until eternity. Thank you so very very much. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Paula Menuck - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan This experience made us feel like we were part of history. We thought it was well put together and a real learning experience. We were very impressed by the whole thing and glad we were able to be a part of it. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Shelley Meltzer - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan Our family felt honored and grateful to be able to have this experience together. The timing comes when we are celebrating beginnings and endings in our family. Both of our children are graduating from High School and college respectively and will begin their next chapters in their life story. It seems wonderfully significant that we were given the Hebrew letter "raysh", whose meaning can be attributed to beginnings and endings. Our "raysh" fell in the middle of the Hebrew word "Yisrael"... the name of our people and our Temple where we and many others celebrate and honor personal beginnings, endings and everything in the middle! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Donna Diem - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan I really loved it. It was amazing. I learned so much that I did not know. Writing a letter was so worth the pleasure. Thank you for letting me do it. I wrote the letter yud in Yitchack. My sons hebrew name is Yitchak and I was hoping to get a letter in his name or my other ones who is Chaim. It meant the world to get the first letter in my son's hebrew name. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Stefanie Steinberg - Temple Israel - West Bloomfield, Michigan We really enjoyed our experience. My 9 year old son and I learned I learned a lot of interesting things things along our path of this experience. This was one of the most amazing things I learned. I had gone through hebrew school, had a Bas Mitvah, confirmation and graduated from religious school and did not realize that each letter had a meaning. We had the Quf, a Nd it was very meaningful to me since I sometimes struggle to consistantly connect to god and it is a great reminder to my son. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Lynn Wiener - Temple Judea - Coral Gables, Florida Rabbi Selwyn was a delight. he welcomed us, showed us and taught us about "our" Hebrew letter, aleph, in an insightful and engaging manner. he truly included us in the process and made it extraordinarily special and incredibly memorable. we wished we had taped our conversation! Our letter was aleph, the 1st letter of the alphabet with a meaning of oneness and unity. this was our 1st time writing in the torah and we did this together as a family. we learned aleph is connected to many words in the torah and is actually a vov connected by two yodhs. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Jodi Miranda - Temple Judea - Coral Gables, Florida We decided to participate in the sofer experience as a way to commemorate our daughter's preschool graduation from the Margaux Early Childhood School at Temple Judea. It way exceeded my expectations and I felt the letter that the Rabbi chose for us couldn't have been more perfect. He engaged my daughter in conversation and really got her excited about the mitzvah of restoring the Torah. The letter chosen for us by the Rabbi was "mem", the only letter the begins and ends the same. The Rabbi asked my daughter what words might start with "mem" and she chose Mitzvah. She had chosen for her 5th birthday to collect donations for JAFCO instead of receiving gifts for herself, as a mitzvah so this was a great letter for her. He spoke about how the letter "mem", with it beginning and ending the same showed us that we too need to be the same, inside and out in what we believe, say and show the world. It was truly a wonderful experience to be a part of.