Last Thursday, the second day of Rosh Chodesh (the New Month), the 1st of Iyar, Parshas Kedoshim, an appreciation evening ceremony was held at the home of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days) for the donors of the Torah scroll being written for the salvation of the People of Israel, for the elevation of the souls of all those murdered in the 'Iron Swords' war, for the cessation of the war, for the peace of the soldiers, and for the speedy return of the hostages.

As mentioned, the ceremony took place at the home of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. The event was opened with remarks by the Chassidic Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav shlit"a, followed by the Chassidic Rabbi Ofer Erez shlit"a. The Rabbis spoke about the days of the Sefirah (the Counting of the Omer) and connected their inner meaning to the matter of writing the Torah scroll of the People of Israel. Afterward, our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, entered the ceremony to the singing of "For length of days and years of life shall they add to you." For many long minutes, all the participants of the appreciation evening stood and danced in honor of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a. As remembered and as published here, the writing of the Torah scroll began on the day of the King's birthday (Ginusia deMalka) – the birthday of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a. Now, after more than four months, they have finished writing the Book of Bereishis (Genesis), and our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, was honored to write the beginning of the Book of Shemos (Exodus). Afterward, the Rav shlit"a delivered several words of chizuk (encouragement) regarding the greatness of writing a Torah scroll and how the humility of Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our Teacher) was such that he did not want to write the word "Vayikra" (And He called). Following this, they began songs of thanksgiving and praise to the Creator of the World for the merit of being partners in writing the Torah scroll of the People of Israel, in the pure words of the Rav shlit"a. The ceremony was concluded by one of the speakers who inspired the crowd and spoke about the merit of being partners in the Torah scroll.