One. Last Mitzvah

As this year comes to an end, it will be remembered as a year marked by tragedy, courage, and resilience.

The images of the atrocities of October 7th and the hostages still being savagely held in Gaza, alongside the bravery of the people of Israel and the Divine protection over so many critical missions, have not left our minds.

It has also been a year that reminded us how united we truly are. When “Noa” was rescued, we all celebrated, and when “Hirsh” was murdered, we all mourned. We learned that when a Jew is unsafe in Haifa, students feel unsafe at Harvard, and how Jewish pride in Johannesburg gives strength to Jerusalem.

There are not American Jews and Israeli Jews, or liberal Jews and conservative Jews. This year reminded us that we are simply Jews.

One Last Mitzvah

As this year draws to a close, we will take out the Torah and read its final mitzvah: for each and every Jew to write a Torah scroll, a mitzvah traditionally fulfilled by communal scrolls written on behalf of the entire community, as well as by having many Jewish books in our homes.*

This year reminded us how much our people are like a Torah scroll — if even one letter is cracked or faded, the entire scroll is invalidated because it is no longer whole. We remembered that when one of us is held captive, none of us are free, and when one of us is freed, we are all liberated.

As the year ends, let’s make this idea real:

Let’s embrace this message of unity. Let’s write it into a scroll. Let’s join together in a very real way

There are 304,805 letters in the Torah. Unique Torah scrolls are being written, with each letter dedicated to another Jew. In total, over 300,000 Jews are connected through each scroll.

Let’s embrace this message of unity. Let’s write it into a scroll. Please get a letter in one of the Unity Torahs and join together in a very real way.

Click here to get your letter in the Unity Torah.

In the expression coined by our sages “May this year and its curses end, and may a year of blessings begin.”

Wishing you a Shana Tova. May you, your loved ones, and all of Klal Yisroel be inscribed and sealed for a sweet new year.

*For a scholarly article about this topic see How We Can Fulfill the Final Mitzvah of the Torah