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Fundraising for New Torahs |
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Many synagogues commission a new Torah, and develop a
major fundraising project in conjunction with the
writing of the new Torah. Synagogues can raise hundreds
of thousands of dollars for a new Torah, depending on
the giving potential and financial capacities of the
membership.
A Torah Fundraising project is a major undertaking,
requiring a year of hard and dedicated work -- for the
synagogue leadership, Rabbi, and administration.
Developing the special fund-raising campaign, marketing
materials and educational programs is time consuming and
challenging and requires professional expertise and
direction.
How is ALLTORAHSCROLLS.COM qualified to direct a
Torah fund-raising project?
- Avrom Fox serves as the fund-raising consultant to
the synagogue. Based on his fifteen years experience as a
Federation professional, including ten years as an
Executive-Director, Mr. Fox has a resume of extensive
fund-raising experience. He has raised millions
of dollars and
knows how to develop the necessary strategy for a
successful Torah campaign. Moreover, he understands
the inner workings of synagogues, the committee
process and the relationship between the professional
and the volunteer.
- Yitzchak Winer has the technical experience to be
involved in the project as the Sofer STaM and
educational consultant for a newly commissioned Torah.
He is skilled at developing innovative and creative
programs which involve the membership of the children in the Hebrew
School, etc. in the process. As it is customary to
include several educational programs throughout the
process, Mr. Winer will typically spend a day or two
around a program, and may participate at a parlor
meeting for fundraising purposes. He is involved
with the actual writing of the first few words of the
Torah, and would participate as the Sofer who would
fill in the letters of the last lines of the Torah.
How the process works
- A Torah fund-raising project generally spans a
full year. If the synagogue is interested in the
services of ALLTORAHSCROLLS.COM, a preliminary visit /
consultation between Avrom Fox and the synagogue
leadership, Rabbi, etc. will be required. Mr. Fox will
travel to the community for one or more meetings. He
will present a complete overview of how the process
works to the group. A profile of a fundraising
strategy is available upon request.
- After contracting to purchase the new Torah from ALLTORAHSCROLLS.COM, Mr. Fox typically will bring the
yeriot to the consultation meeting so that the
committee can select the sample of the Torah they wish
to purchase.
- Once the contract of sale is executed, a detailed
fund-raising plan will be developed and presented. The
plan will provide giving opportunities on all levels
to enable all members, even those with limited funds
and young children, to participate. There are
opportunities to purchase letters, sentences, parshiot,
each of the 5 Books, special readings including the
Ten commandments and the Shma, etc. Furthermore there
are opportunities to dedicate the Torah accessories
including the crown, the pointer, the breast plate,
etc. A creative marketing campaign will be discussed,
as well as the dollar amounts for the various giving
levels.
- Once the plan is approved, the project will be
officially launched. Generally, there is a special
dinner meeting for the larger donors, and a public
ceremony celebrating the commissioning of the Torah. A
spirit of commitment to the project is created at this
celebration, allowing the community to buy into the
process, and become an intrinsic part of the new
Torah.
- Mr. Fox will visit the congregation a number of
times throughout the process. He will conduct ongoing
meetings with the committee and staff, assess the
progress of the campaign, and be available to conduct
solicitations of prospective donors, in conjunction
with the synagogue leaders and staff.
- Mr. Winer will be available to conduct educational
programs with Hebrew School children, high school
youth groups, synagogue members and leaders.
- The GOAL is to raise money, and to enable every
member of the community to participate in the
campaign; to create an exciting environment and to
energize the entire congregation around the production
and arrival of the Congregational Sefer Torah.
- If ALLTORAHSCROLLS.COM is engaged to sell the
Torah and conduct the campaign, our compensation
consists of a modest, flat fee, inaddition to to
reimbursement for food, lodging and expenses.
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The very last mitzvah in the Torah is to write a Torah
Scroll. By endowing a letter, word, sentence for yourself,
your children, family members or friends, it is as if you have
written your own Torah Scroll.
Mitzvah On Every Jew
It is a mitzvah (positive commandment) for every Jew to write
for himself a Sefer Torah as it is said: "And now write for
you this song and from tradition our Sages received the
explanation of this verse: to write the whole Torah were the
song is written. Even if one inherited a Sefer Torah from his
father, still he is commanded to write one for himself. If he
hired a Sofer (Certified Scribe) to write a Sefer Torah for
him or if he fixed the Sefer Torah considered as if he wrote
it by himself. |
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