A Moment of Unity at the Western Wall: The Ninth Torah Scroll of the Children of Israel Introduced
Tens of thousands gathered at the Western Wall for the introduction of the ninth Torah scroll of the children of Israel, written following the registration of 304,805 children worldwide. The event featured the completion of the final letters, a grand procession, and traditional Hakafot.
Event Overview
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Event: Completion and introduction ceremony of the ninth Torah scroll of the children of Israel.
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Scope: 304,805 children from around the world participated.
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Initiative: The Lubavitcher Rebbe (established in 1981).
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Symbolic Timing: 20th of Menachem Av, the Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson.
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Locations: 'Tzemach Tzedek' synagogue and the Western Wall plaza.
A Celebration of Unity
Despite the intense heat, tens of thousands of people from all walks of Israeli society—secular, religious, and Haredi—crowded the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem yesterday evening. They gathered for the completion and introduction of the ninth Torah scroll of the children of Israel, a massive project founded decades ago to unite the children of Israel and serve as a spiritual shield for the Jewish people.
This new scroll marks another milestone in the historic enterprise initiated by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1981. Over the past three years, thousands of Chabad emissaries worldwide worked to register 304,805 children—matching the number of letters in the Torah—with each child purchasing a letter in this special scroll.
The Final Letters and Procession
The event opened with the ceremony of writing the final letters, honored by Torah giants, Admorim, Yeshiva heads, and rabbis, alongside prominent campaign activists.
Following the writing of the final words "before the eyes of all Israel" and the placement of a magnificent crown on the scroll, a grand procession moved from the 'Tzemach Tzedek' synagogue in the Old City toward the Western Wall plaza. The procession was accompanied by drums, dancing, and powerful singing that swept through the streets of Jerusalem.
Singing, Hakafot, and Addresses
At the Western Wall plaza, a decorated central stage awaited. The Torah scroll was brought to the stage with great honor, and the crowd began singing the rhythmic "Sisu VeSimchu."
Focusing on spirit and joy rather than long speeches, the three-hour event featured only four brief, focused addresses delivered by:
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Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall
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Rabbi David Yosef, Chief Rabbi of Israel and Rishon LeZion
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Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, former Chief Rabbi of Israel
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Rabbi Reuven Elbaz, head of the 'Or HaChaim' Yeshiva
The heart of the event focused on the 'Hakafot' ceremony and the recitation of 'Ata Horeita' verses, accompanied by singers Nemuel Harush and Simcha Friedman. A particularly moving sight occurred when thousands of children and participants recited in unison the 12 verses and sayings of the Sages that the Lubavitcher Rebbe instructed to memorize.
Around 9:00 PM, the official ceremony concluded with the heart-stirring singing of "Ani Ma'amin." The ninth Torah scroll was returned to the 'Tzemach Tzedek' synagogue, where it joins the eight previous scrolls to serve visitors for all purposes.
