Argentina Erupts in Joy at Rebbe’s Unity Torah Siyum

Many thousands of Anash and mekuravim gathered at La Rural, the massive exhibition and convention center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the grand siyum of the 12th Sefer Torah Hakloli, written in accordance with the Rebbe’s directive to unite the Jewish people.

The event drew rabbonim and Torah personalities from across Argentina’s Jewish community, the Rebbe’s shluchim, representatives of the Israeli embassy, and public figures from across the community.

Among those who addressed the gathering were Israel’s Chief Rabbi and President of the Chief Rabbinate Council, Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber; Rabbi Tzvi Greenblatt, Head Shliach in Argentina; and Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Oirechman, chairman of the Committee for the Writing of the Sefer Torah Hakloli.

The Sefer Torah Hakloli, also known as the “Unity Torah,” was first initiated in 5742 (1982), when the Rebbe announced that a general Sefer Torah would be written for all Jews, not only for children. The Rebbe spoke about the initiative repeatedly at farbrengens that year, urging Chassidim to participate with hishtadlus nafshis.

During the Lebanon War, the Rebbe explained that this Sefer Torah carries a special segulah to protect soldiers in battle, uniting every Jewish soldier through the 304,805 letters of a single Torah scroll. The Rebbe also stressed that the siyum should take place in a location of rov am, where as many Jews as possible could participate.

In Buenos Aires, dignitaries, rabbonim, and shluchim were honored with completing the final letters of the Sefer Torah.

After the final letter was written, one of the shluchim in Argentina was honored with reciting Shehecheyanu, which the crowd answered with an emotional Amen. The ceremony continued with hagbah and gelilah, as the completed Sefer Torah was lifted and wrapped before the assembled crowd.

The hakafos were especially lebedik. Singer Yedidya Chait of Bal Harbour, Florida, led the singing, and the dancing continued with a joy that united everyone present.

Rabbonim, shluchim, public figures, and community members from every shul and background joined together in song and dance around one Torah.

The hakafos were dedicated l’zchus the Rebbe, the Jews of Argentina, the Jews of Eretz Yisroel, the Rebbe’s shluchim around the world, and the shluchim in the most remote places, who spread the light of Yiddishkeit everywhere. They were also held in the merit of Moshiach, who should come speedily in our days.

The evening also marked the beginning of the 13th Sefer Torah Hakloli, continuing the Rebbe’s initiative to unite Yidden through the purchase of letters in a general Sefer Torah.

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