New Torah: a Significant Symbol

Traditional fiddle tunes pierced the air last Sunday evening as people danced and laughed in a warm welcome to Choate’s new Torah. The procession of faculty and students started at the Sally Hart Lodge before parading around campus with the Torah and settling down in the Seymour St. John Chapel to hear a small service, which included remarks from Headmaster Dr. Alex Curtis, Rabbi Barbara Paris, and various student readings.

“We have tried over the last 15 years to have the Chapel become more and more of an inclusive space for every religion to feel comfortable and welcome. So the Torah is going to go into a custom-made wooden box in the Chapel,” Mr. Jim Davidson, a Spiritual Life adviser.

A Torah is a text that is the cornerstone of the Jewish religious tradition. Mr. Davidson said, “A true Torah is a hand copied scroll made of either handmade paper or hand-pounded animal skin.” He elaborated, “It is seen as the exact word of the law, hand copied and checked by three rabbis.”

Rabbi Paris had heard that two synagogues in New Jersey had merged, and the resulting synagogue had extra Torahs for sale. Mr. Davidson said, “Torahs are pretty rare, and Torah scrolls can be very expensive, but we managed to bring all the pieces together. The seller was willing to make a Torah available to our school at a very fair price.”

Hadalee Goodman ’17, co-President of Hillel, a Jewish student group, said, “Everything is handwritten in special paper and ink, and it took four months for rabbis to review every character. I would guess that it cost 20,000 to 30,000 dollars.”

Many students from Hillel have been eagerly hoping for a Torah at Choate. As Mr. Davidson said, “Kids are thrilled that it’s coming, and students have wanted to have it for a good bit. They’re happy.”

Mr. Davidson continued, “I think our Jewish students will just feel that much more supported with the Torah. Some of them are used to have access to Torahs at their home synagogues, but I think having a Torah here will allow them to read the law in a very traditional form. The Torah exists online, and you can get regular bound books of it, but having this is special.”

Students really enjoyed the event welcoming the Torah. Hillel Co-President Max Nobel ’17 commented, “I’m pretty sure we’re the only prep school that has a Torah, and I think bringing it here really symbolizes multiculturalism, the expansion of religious life on campus, and the increased access of all students about information about other religions.”

All students were welcome to attend the events. Science teacher Deron Chang said, “I was amazed by the turnout because there were both Jews and non-Jews.” Polina Ermoshkina ’19 said, “The event wasn’t mandatory, so the people who were there really wanted to be there. It was pretty sizable for a religious event. Holding the Torah was fun, and everyone was really accepting even if you weren’t Jewish. It was really cool to see Dr. Curtis be the last one to carry it into the Chapel. What was really remarkable was that he said, ‘Choate being around 126 years old, we don’t get any firsts anymore, but this is a first.’ So, I feel really honored to be apart of it.”

Goodman said, “It was a fun community event, and it would have been more fun if they required students to attend. It was a very joyous occasion. I’m not religious at all but, it is nice to have this Torah.”