This past Sunday, thousands of people gathered for a mega Siyum of the 11th Sefer Torah Haklali – the Unity Torah held in front of 770 following the Kinus Hashluchim. It was a spectacular and truly historic event, with shluchim and Crown Heights residents dancing side by side in pure, authentic joy, celebrating the simcha of Klal Yisroel.

However, the event left some still quietly wondering: What exactly is the Sefer Torah Haklali? Why is it so important? And what’s the difference between it and the Children’s Sefer Torah?

Forty-plus years have passed since the Rebbe launched what he referred to not as just another project, but “a special mivtza for our generation”¹: the Mivtza Sefer Torah Haklali, uniting every Yid through the purchase of a single letter in a shared Sefer Torah².

There are 304,805 letters in a Sefer Torah, and when each letter is bought by another Jew, this becomes the greatest possible form of achdus – uniting all Jews together in this Sefer Torah. Because if even one letter is missing, the Torah is invalid.

From its earliest moments, the Rebbe emphasized that this was not a symbolic gesture nor a short-term campaign, but a peulah nimsheches, a permanent mission to bring true achdus Yisroel and shmira in turbulent times. As the Rebbe put it, every Jew acquiring a letter “adds actual life and protection” to himself and to Klal Yisroel.³

From the very first farbrengens of 5742, when the Rebbe launched the campaign, the Rebbe spoke repeatedly – over one hundred times – about this mivtza. The Rebbe demanded that it be done with zerizus, mesiras nefesh, and without pause. The instruction was clear: continue writing new Sifrei Torah until not a single Jew remains without a letter.

It was the Rebbe himself who warned against writing separate scrolls for every institution, clarifying that the goal is to unite as many Yidden as possible in one Sefer Torah (with the exception of specific cases, including the Sifrei Torah written by or on behalf of Tomchei Tmimim, Beis Rivka, and various special circumstances).

A little-known fact is that the entire initiative began with a simple Yid in Kiryat Yam – paralyzed, communicating only with his head – who asked the Rebbe why only children, not adults, merit an “os b’Sefer Torah.” The Rebbe accepted his claim and immediately transformed the idea into a global movement for all of Klal Yisroel.

The Rebbe also revealed deeper ruchniusdige dimensions that many overlook: this achdus is not just symbolic. It creates an actual “choma shel Torah”, a protective wall, especially vital “when the world shakes and darkness covers the earth.”  The Rebbe cited Daniel’s promise that “Yimolait kol hanimtza kasuv baSefer” – those whose names are found in the Sefer will merit special protection in “a time of trouble.”

Another point the Rebbe returned to again and again: even children who already have a letter in the Children’s Sefer Torah must also have a letter in the Sefer Torah HaKloli, written for all Jews after Bar and Bas Mitzvah.⁴ This should be done, like the Children’s Sefer Torah, as soon as possible after birth.

Oftentimes, many Anash, bochurim, and even shluchim are shocked to discover that they themselves only have a letter from the children’s Torah, but never bought a letter in the Sefer Torah HaKloli.

As we celebrate the Siyum of the 11th Sefer Torah Haklali, the call is louder and clearer than ever: The Rebbe instructed not to rest after a Siyum on the Sefer Torah, but to start the next immediately signing up more jews in the next sefer Torah, with greater strength, until every Jew in the world has an a letter in the Sefer Torah.

This is a good time to check and ensure: Do you, your siblings, your classmates, your children, your mekuravim – all have a letter in the Sefer Torah HaKloli?

(The Rebbe even mentioned the idea of buying letters for the deceased, noting that this works even according to Halacha.)

With a new Sefer Torah now beginning, this is the time for every chossid to make sure that he – and everyone around him – is included in this extraordinary mivtza.

As the Rebbe promised: An os in the Sefer Torah Haklali is not merely ink on parchment – it is life, protection, achdus, and the final steps toward Geulah.

To purchase a letter in the 12th Unity Sefer Torah, click here.

1. 15 Shevat 5742. ↩︎
2.  One may, however, buy multiple letters in multiple Sifrei Torah ↩︎
3. Leil Simchas Torah 5742. ↩︎
4. See at length Sicha of Parshas Lech 5742, where the Rebbe explains the need for both Sifrei Torah ↩︎