Dear Friends,
As many of you know, a Torah Scroll was recently completed in Houston TX in memory of our precious nephew, Mendel Cotlar, ztl. Many of you even participated in this special Torah by "purchasing a letter." Our family went to Houston at the end of December for this deeply emotional, yet joyous event.
The Torah was not only written in Mendel's memory, but will always be used, G-d willing, in the spirit of the type of life that Mendel personified. The family hopes and plans that a special "youth Minyan" will be formed in Houston where children and young teens will lead the services and gain an appreciation for the joy and meaning of prayer. "Mendel's Torah" will
be at the center of this new program. The many details regarding the creation of this program in Houston have not yet been finalized, and in the meanwhile, the Torah needs a home in which it will be regularly used. (When a new Torah is written, it is important that during that first year, it is read each week!)
The family has chosen Chabad of Cary to be that temporary home. Daniel and Eta are like family for all of us in Cary. Many of you know them, as they have been coming here for the last few years to lead service services on the High Holidays. In addition, our Chabad House had a special place in Mendel's heart and is where he spent a very joyous Purim some years ago. We
are honored to be able to read and learn from this special Torah over the coming months.
We encourage all you to come welcome the Torah at Chabad of Cary this Shabbos as we read from the Torah for the first time. In particular, we'd love children to come to the service, even if for only a few minutes to be able to kiss this new special Torah. Following services, we will be sponsoring the kiddush in honor of the occasion.
A special thanks to Avraham Fishman, a close friend of our family, who will be traveling from Houston with the Torah and spending Shabbos with us.
To watch the emotional video shown at the event about Mendel's Life and the signifiance of this Torah, click here
