Havurah: Shavuot and the dedication of our first Sefer Torah

The Reconstructionist Havurah of Cleveland celebrates
receiving the Law on Mount Sinai and in Cleveland

TORAH STUDY - Shavuot Tikkun

Each year the Havurah hosts a Tikkun Leil Shavuot, the traditional study the night before Shavuot. This year’s topic was "The Ten Commandments Revisited", led by Arthur Lieberman. The group met on Thursday evening May 20, at the home of Sam and Anna Kelman.

Be sure to view an illustrated history of our Torah Scrolls.

Click on each of the small photos below to display pictures.

SHAVUOT HOLIDAY SERVICES Saturday May 22

We held our holiday services on the second day of Shavuot, Saturday morning, May 22 in the auditorium of the College of Jewish Studies. Click here.

The younger children danced and the school age children presented a play on receiving the Ten Commandments. Click here.

TORAH WORKSHOP Saturday afternoon

A Torah workshop took place in the College - Agnon Building from 3:30 - 5:00 pm. It focused on deepening our understanding of the Torah and the Torah scrolls.
Click here.

TORAH DEDICATION CEREMONY

The celebration that welcomed our Sefer Torah began at 5:00 pm with a singing processional including children, B'nai Mitzvahs, adults of several ages, and the rabbis. The service highlighted themes of passing Judaism on through generations and linking communities. The new Sefer Torah was passed from member to member.
Click here.

We also heard from a representative of the congregation that was the former home of our new scrolls and learned more about their history. Click here.

click to read the history of our scrolls

Young men and women who had been Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah at the Havurah read from the new Sefer Torah.
Click here.

Members had brought their prayer shawls and joined their tallitot together to form a chuppah for the symbolic wedding of the congregation with its new scrolls.
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We proclaimed our individual and communal commitment to, and responsibility for, the Torah and its principles by the reading of our Havurah Torah Ketubah.

Click here to see the entire Ketubah.

..... We, the members of the Reconstructionist Havurah of Cleveland, promise to consecrate ourselves, individually and communally to your Torah ......

And, as is customary at weddings, we danced.
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As a gift for the bride, Havurah members have designed and started work on a beautiful cover for the table on which the Torah scrolls will be placed when being read. To learn more, click here.

A potluck supper for all followed, with food and beverages brought by members.

HAVDALAH SERVICE

Teen age members took an active role in a Havdalah service which marked the end of Shabbat, the end of Shavuot, and the close of a memorable day. Click here.