• Home
• About WFHA
  • Greetings
  • Mission Statement
  • History
  • WFHA In Brief
  • Educational Philosophy
  • Faculty/Staff Directory
  • Board
  • Directions and Location
  • Contact us
• Admissions
  • Introduction
  • Information
• Academics
  • Curriculum Overview
  • General Studies
  • Judaic Studies
  • P.A.L.S.
  • Enrichment
  • Faculty Credentials
• News
  • WFHA News
  • WFHA Newsletters
• Parent Resources
  • Forms
  • School Calendar
  • Lunch Menu
  • Afterschool Programs
  • Spring Sports Schedule
• Supporting WFHA
  • Erev Tov
  • Contact

With Song, Dance and Ceremony WFHA Embraces new Torah

Westchester Fairfield Hebrew Academy ushered in the Thanksgiving holiday by giving thanks to a special gift - a new sefer Torah.

On November 25, WFHA gathered for a festive celebration as students, staff, parents and alumni formally embraced its new Torah, a gift from Adam and Diane Safer, whose two daughters attend WFHA.

The Torah hails from Milwaukee, Wis. and was used by Adam Safer's parents, Keren and Jerry, as part of their Havura, or social prayer group.

The elder Safers traveled from Milwaukee to attend the dedication, and watched as the WFHA community embraced the Torah that had been in their family for more than 40 years. Also attending was the Safer's youngest daughter, Leora, who will be entering kindergarten next year and Adam Safer's brother, Jonah.

The celebrations began with the lower school students singing and playing instruments as they paraded the Torah across campus to the Upper School auditorium. Each class held banners they created, representing one of the 12 tribes of Israel.

"It was my parents' wish that this Torah should continue to be used in a new Havura - the WFHA Havura," said Adam Safer, who carried the Torah under a canopy of Chuppahs as he made his way to the front of the auditorium. Upon entering the vast room, students, staff and guests sang "Torah, Torah," while dancing, clapping and playing musical instruments.

Zerach Greenfield, a Queens, N.Y. sofer, refurbished the Torah, and attended the dedication to make the final repairs. The entire student-body watched as Greenfield dipped his quill in his inkwell and penned the Torah's final Hebrew letters.

The ceremony included a performance by the choir, the school's dance troop, a Torah reading and several special blessings. There was also a gift presentation by the alumni and parents of the class of 2008 - a mantle for the new Torah.

The ceremony ended when each class stood and recited a blessing they composed for the school's new Torah, followed by festive dancing and singing by the entire school community.

"This is a big celebration," said by Rabbi Moshe Steigman, assistant rabbi at Westchester Jewish Center in Mamoroneck, a family friend the Safers. "This is a wonderful day for the WFHA community as you get to welcome a new friend into your community - a new Torah - to learn from and read from."