Chabad of South Denver/DU
THANK YOU! WE DID IT! We raised $118,913 for Chabad of South Denver/DU! Thank you to our generous matchers for making this a possibility, and a HUGE thank you goes to YOU for seizing the opportunity to do good.
In Memory of Ronald "Ronnie" Schiff ז"ל
Naming of the Torah Scroll
Open for Dedication
Bereisheit/Genesis
Open for Dedication
Shemot/Exodus
Open for Dedication
Leviticus/Vayikra
David and Barbie Drori
Numbers/Bemidbar
Open for Dedication
Deuteronomy/Devarim
The University of Denver community unites
to write a brand new Sefer Torah for a Safer DU!
Why did we commission a new Torah scroll
after October 7th?
Because we want to do everything we could to help our community and our world that were thrown into chaos and fear.The Torah scroll is a source of blessing, and therefore, writing a new Torah brings blessing to our community. Our Torah is a “healing medicine”. We are writing a new Torah to heal our broken hearts and reestablish our sense of safety.
The Torah is the Tree of Life: Our Torah reminds us that one who hold on to Torah values, grasp Life.
The Torah is Eternal: The Torah scroll is the only constant that has held the Jews together as a family for its entire history. Our Torah will be proudly welcomed, finished, celebrated and danced across our campus in a public display of Joyful Judaism.
A Double Mitzvah:
1. Writing a Torah is one of the 613 positive commandments, and this will be our first Torah.
2. Tzedakah: All moneys raised after the Torah cost will fund Chabad to continue serving our students.
Dedication Opportunities:
Dedication Opportunities:
While a few students were Bar Mitzvah for the first time at Chabad, most people come to campus with a Torah portion that they feel a special connection to. Dedicating any part of a Torah is an everlasting honor that will continue sending new merit and blessing every time the Torah is used. Whether you wish to dedicate your full parsha, an aliya, a verse or a letter, you are connecting with the DU Jewish community and its ongoing effort to spread Judaism joyfully. You may also donate and dedicate in honor of loved ones who are living or in memory of those who have passed. You can honor an occasion, a life milestone or to say thank you.
Here are the list of suggested dedication opportunities and amounts:
| Letter | $2 |
| Word | $18 |
| Verse | $54 |
| Chapter | $180 |
| Maftir | $500 |
| Weekly Portion | $1,000 |
| Dedicate a special Portion | |
| Shema | $1,800 |
| Blessings for children | Sold |
| Az Yashir | $1,800 |
| Birkat Kohanim | $1,800 |
| Moses seeing G-d | $1,800 |
| The Manna | $3,600 |
| Leaving Egypt | $3,600 |
| Blessings for success | $3,600 |
| Yitro (Giving the Torah) | sold |
| Bereishit (1st Portion) | $5,400 |
|
V'zot Habracha (Last portion) |
$5,400 |
|
Naming rights |
|
| One of the Five Books | $10,000 |
| Torah Naming Dedication | Sold |
Why are we trying to raise so much money?
This Torah campaign is a double Mitzvah. In addition to raising funds for a new Torah scroll it is also a fundraiser to make sure we have the funds to continue serving our students.
Chabad at the University of Denver is a 501(c)3 nonprofit; EIN 84-1609995 all donations are 100% tax deductible. We are responsible for raising our entire annual budget and rely solely on donations from people like you. We are not funded by the university or by any central Chabad agency. Any amount is sincerely appreciated.
To donate directly from your RMD from IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and retirement plan accounts, stocks or bonds etc. Call Rabbi Yossi: 303-744-1051
Celebrations and Updates:
A $25,000 gift was made when the idea was in its infancy. So that it would be Dollar for Dollar challenge grant for the actual cost of the Torah. The donor has dedicated his gift to helping Jews reconnect with Torah and GD, and prefers to remain anonymous.
The unfinished Torah will be brought to Denver after Passover, and will be used for educational purposes at DU before it is finished and assembled.
A Torah completion celebration is being planned for the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend,May 26, which is also the holy day of Lag Ba’omer . The festivities will be held on the University of Denver campus.
We hope you will join with us to celebrate!
Who will own the Torah?
Torah is owned by each and every Jew. This scroll will be kept at Chabad and used by the community.Our students will pray with this Torah on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, dance with it on Simchat Torah, read it on Shabbat and Holidays and cherish it all year long.
Why is writing a Torah scroll is so special?
The final Mitzvah in the Torah is for everyone to write a Torah Scroll. By endowing a letter, word, or verse for yourself, your children, family members or friends, it is as if you have written your own Torah Scroll. In addition, this mitzvah brings G-d’s blessings to everyone who participates in it.
In our tradition, no letter is more important than another. Just as every letter in the Torah is indispensable - if even one letter is missing the Torah is invalid, so is every member of the Jewish people essential to our wholeness as a nation. Hence, by participating in the creation of this Torah, you will not only have a lifelong connection, but in a very special way you are signifying that you are one with the Jewish nation, one with tradition, one with our destiny.
We welcome your participation in this special mitzvah.
Rabbi Yossi and Chanie Serebryanski