Nearly 3,000 people attended an emotional Hachnosas Sefer Torah for Heaton Park Shul on Sunday 11th October.
The new Sefer Torah, named the Unity Sefer Torah, was dedicated in memory of the two Kedoshim, Melvyn Kravitz HY”D and Adrian Daulby HY”D, who were killed on Yom Kippur last year during an attack on the Shul.
The very site of the attack became a place of simcha and achdus as members of the Shul, members of Anash, Shluchim and Yidden from across the wider Manchester community gathered to dance and celebrate the arrival of the new Sefer Torah.
The Unity Sefer Torah was commissioned through donations from the Shul community, with members given the opportunity to sponsor a letter, a Posuk or a Parsha. Others donated the silver crown, Yad, Atzei Chaim and breastplate. Everyone had the opportunity to take part, creating a Sefer Torah that belongs to the whole Shul.
The celebrations began at Rabbi Daniel Walker’s home, where invited guests joined Sofer Yehoshua Macmull in completing the final letters of the Sefer Torah.
The procession, nearly 3,000 people strong, then made its way towards Heaton Park Shul, accompanied by the lively music of Buchi Glick and The Sameach Choir. Greater Manchester Police and CST worked together to keep everyone safe throughout the event.
On arrival at the Shul car park, the dancing continued and pekelach were handed out to the children. The celebrations then moved inside, with singing and dancing around the Bimah, bringing together the new Sefer Torah and the Shul’s existing Sifrei Torah.
A gala dinner followed later that evening, where over 250 guests heard from Rabbi Walker and former Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy. Also in attendance were Bernard Agyemang, Yoni Finlay and Andrew Franks, who were injured during the attack.
A special thank you goes to AY Halter and Meir Bolel, who, together with Rabbi Walker, Chairman of Trustees Alan Levy and President Hilary Foxler, organised the Sefer Torah and the day’s events.
