Mascott Beit Midrash Opening Celebration

Thursday, January 26 was the first full day back for our ordination students and faculty. As part of the morning’s activities, our Dean of Students, Rabbi Daniel Klein, led the whole community through a welcoming ritual—a very special tradition of sanctifying a new home by inviting a minyan to read the entire Torah. Per the tradition he shared (from Siach Sarfei Kodesh 4:64), each student and faculty member took upon themselves to read or chant a few chapters from the Torah—all reading simultaneously and creating a wonderful cacophony of sacred sound. It took about 40 minutes, and every word of the Torah was brought into our new space. People then briefly offered blessings and kavanot and we ended with singing, dancing, and a nosh.