HONOR A LOVED ONE TO WIN A SEFER TORAH FOR YOUR LOCAL CHABAD HOUSE

A new project has been launched by an innovative sofer to give people an affordable way to honor loved ones by securing an aliya and help the Rebbe’s shluchim and struggling Chabad Houses in all corners of the globe.

While the Seifer Torah is the most central holy object in any Chabad House, unfortunately many shluchim don’t have the means to purchase one for their congregation. Without a Seifer Torah, the shluchim either must borrow one on a limited basis or go without – a serious problem for any Chabad House trying to maintain a daily or weekly minyan. Rabbi Yankel Meislin is starting a new fundraising initiative to benefit Chabad Houses throughout the world by offering a raffle for a Seifer Torah written according to the Alter Rebbe’s k’sav.

“The raffle for an Alter Rebbe Seifer Torah is a win-win for everyone,” said Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gafni, former head of Yeshivas Ohr T’mimim in Kfar Chabad and currently mashpia and maggid shiur at the Tzemach Tzedek Synagogue in the Holy City of Tzfas. “The fundraiser helps shluchim obtain a Seifer Torah for their community while offering their supporters an innovative way to honor their loved ones.”

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

People can join this initiative by donating $180 for an aliya in the Seifer Torah to memorialize a loved one or celebrate a simcha. Thirty percent of the proceeds will go directly to support the Chabad House of their choice. All supporters will receive a certificate noting their specific aliya.

To determine the winner, a raffle will be conducted by Rabbi Mordechai Bistritzky, rav of the Chabad community in Tzfas. After Rabbi Meislin completes the writing of the Seifer Torah, a siyum Seifer Torah will be held at the winning Chabad House at no additional cost.

FULFILLING
THE REBBE’S VISION

“In my visits with several Chabad Houses,” recalled Rabbi Meislin, “I noticed that many had enough people for a minyan but had no Seifer Torah. This situation pained me; the Torah is the most central object for any shul. As a sofer, I wanted to figure out a way to help shluchim who don’t have enough financial backing to afford a Seifer Torah. The shluchim are very dear to the Rebbe, and I wanted to be able to help them. In the maamer “L’havin Inyan K’sivas Seifer Torah” (Yud Shvat 5730), the Rebbe notes that all elements of life are elevated by the Torah. The ink is prepared from inanimate and vegetative ingredients, the parchment comes from animal skin, and the Torah is read four times a week by a human being. Thus, we see that writing a Seifer Torah can elevate all forms of life. With G-d’s help, in addition to all of our avoda, this should be the last of what is needed to bring about the hisgalus of the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, immediately, mamash, now!”

Rabbi Gafni: “I know Yankel Meislin very well and his work is exact to specifications of the Alter Rebbe k’sav. I have always found Yankel extremely reliable and honest in all of his business endeavors.”

To enter this raffle, send a two-month postdated check made out to Yankel Meislin at the following address: 3281 Shore Road, Oceanside, NY 11572. Print and fill out the form to indicate: your contact information, which Chabad House you wish to enter into the raffle, the person honored and the occasion recognized.

ABOUT YANKEL MEISLIN

Originally from Oceanside, New York, Yankel Meislin is a certified sofer from the prestigious Vaad Hamisheret Stam of B’nei Brak. Currently living in the Holy City of Tzfas, Yankel is learning for his rabbinical ordination in Tzfas’ Ohel Moshe Kollel, located in the city’s Canaan neighborhood.

For more information, you can send an e-mail to Rabbi Meislin at btbh770@gmail.com or call 972-50-684-5770.