Over a hundred young anash families turned out on Sunday, 17 Elul, to celebrate the completion of a Sefer Torah dedicated by the Nigri and Berkes families to the memory of Chaia Mushka (Berkes) Stiefelmann z”l, a young shlucha and mother in Sao Paulo, Brazil, who tragically passed away at age twenty-eight in 2016. Participants escorted the Sefer Torah with much fanfare from Carroll Street to its home at 94 Beis Moshe, where joyous hakafos and a seudas mitzvah were conducted.

Chaia Mushka Stiefelmann grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where her father, Rabbi Avraham Meir Berkes serves as rov. She moved to Sao Paulo with her husband, Rabbi Avrohom Stiefelmann, where they served as shluchim at the Knesset Israel shul and directed teens programming. The Sefer Torah is a beautiful tribute to someone who spent her life sharing and teaching Torah.

The Hachnosas Sefer Torah was a milestone first for the young anash community of 94 Beis Moshe, who were welcoming their community’s first dedicated Sefer Torah. And with an ongoing fundraising campaign to secure a permanent address for their shul in Crown Heights, the celebration was a visible demonstration of the community’s vitality, and a statement that these families are putting down roots.

Mid-way through the procession, the Sefer Torah’s parade stopped at the property 94 Beis Moshe has purchased to serve as their future home at 546 E New York Ave. There, they danced; before the celebration concluded at the shul’s current space one block down.

To help secure a permanent home for 94 Beis Moshe, serving the young anash community of Crown Heights, visit the campaign.