Rabbi Yerachmiel Seplowitz writes final letters in the Torah and marches through the lobby with the senior residents, staff and family, and the children from Yeshiva of Spring Valley, as they celebrate Sefer Torah at FountainView Retirement Community.
Rabbi
Over 300 people gathered together last Sunday, November 15th, to celebrate a Hachnosas Sefer Torah a t FountainView at College Road, Rockland county’s premier retirement community. The community received a Sefer Torah from the Sperling family to commemorate the memory of Paul and Helen Sperling, who were residents of the community.
Joining in the celebration with the Sperlings, were the community’s senior residents, staff and family, area residents and children from Yeshiva of Spring Valley, who carried flags commemorating the occasion. The festivities included the Rabbi Yerachmiel Seplowitz writing the final letters in the torah, the march throughout the lobby accompanied by the Yedidim Choir, the procession and dancing outside the community entrance and the concluding ceremony in the community’s town hall.
Rochelle Graubard, the Sperlings’ daughter, spoke of the inspiring life their parents enjoyed at FountainView. She said that her parents came on a trial basis and were truly impressed with the service, the well-kept grounds and the pool. But more important, the personnel at the community were exceptional in how they accommodated everyone’s needs and treated them with dignity and respect. In particular, her father was ecstatic that there is a shul on the premises and enjoyed daily prayer services. Paul and Helen Sperling were married for 72 years and Paul lived until 100 years old.
Rochelle noted that the family felt a Sefer Torah seemed the most fitting way to immortalize the memory of their mother and father. Neither of them was ostentatious and they always valued what was truly important. The family felt now it is befitting to commemorate their lives with the simcha and love of Torah.
The magnificent Hashnosas Sefer Torah coincided with the day after Paul Sperling’s Hebrew birthday and honored the couple for the boundless love they exhibited for their fellow Jews and their dedication to Yiddishkeit.
