The Jewish community of Mykolaiv, Ukraine, led by Rabbi Sholom Gotlieb and Rebbetzin Dina Gotlieb, celebrated the hachnosas sefer Torah of a beautifully written new Sefer Torah to the city’s central shul ahead of Shavuos, the Yom Tov of Mattan Torah.

Hundreds of community members, guests, local officials, and students of the city’s Or Menachem schools joined the joyous procession, which wound through the streets with lively music, singing, and dancing.

The Sefer Torah was donated, with the encouragement and guidance of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky, by Benjamin Dachenko of the Dnipro Jewish community, in honor of the Rebbe.

The celebration carried special significance in Mykolaiv, the city where the Rebbe was born in 1902 and spent his early childhood years. The Rebbe’s grandfather, Rabbi Meir Shlomo Yanovsky, served as the city’s chief rabbi. Mykolaiv is also closely connected to the Rebbe’s family legacy through Rabbi Avraham Dovid Lavut, the Rebbe’s great-great-grandfather, who served as rov of the city beginning in the 19th century.

The festivities continued as the new Sefer Torah was welcomed into the shul, with the existing sifrei Torah taken from the aron kodesh to greet the new arrival. A local choir accompanied the emotional event, while spirited hakafos filled the shul with simcha.

Following the hachnosas sefer Torah, the large crowd joined together for a joyous seudas mitzvah.