Folks throughout the Jacksonville Jewish community recently honored Rabbi Yaakov Fisch with one of Judaism’s most sacred gifts: a newly written Sefer Torah.
Hundreds of families, congregants from Etz Chaim Synagogue and Jews throughout the community took part in a procession through the streets of Mandarin, celebrating the completion of the sefer Torah scroll – a process that took 18 months to complete.
The scroll was commissioned in honor of Rabbi Fisch’s years of leadership, service, and support of the Jewish community, both locally and around the world.
In a message shared with the community, Rabbi Fisch reflected on the significance of the moment, calling it “an honor of a lifetime.”
“At a time when handwritten books are nearly non-existent, the Sefer Torah represents something central to who we are as a people,” Rabbi Fisch wrote. “The notion of a kehilah – a community – collaborating for such a sacred cause represents the very best in Judaism.”
The Torah scroll will be read on Shabbos and Yom Tov, continuing a tradition Rabbi Fisch said connects generations.
