After the terrible tragedy of October 7th which we just commemorated this week, a lot of us have asked ourselves the question: How can we celebrate this Simchat Torah on the yahrzeit of the greatest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust?

The answer, I believe, is achdut.

Synagogues all over the world will be participating in a campaign called The Simchat Torah Project. Organized by Mizrachi, congregations will open their Aron Kodesh and take out a Torah scroll dressed in an idential me'il (Torah cover) honoring the memory of one of the 1,200 souls lost on Octover 7th and in the ensuing wars for the safety of the State of Israel.

Our kehillah has a special connection to one of those souls: Sgt. David Schwartz (HY"D). The brother of our member Shira Meirman, David was killed in battle in Khan Yunis. He was only 26 years old and this me'il will forever honour his sacrifice so his memory will live on.

If you would like to join us in sponsoring this initiative, Shira & Ehud Meirman have agreed to be matching donors to this campaign. Your double mitzvah will ensure that David's memory stays in Thornhill long after the Meirmans return to Eretz Yisrael.