10 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2024 

Torah campaign was spearheaded 
by Rachel Lefkowitz and Brittney 
Goldberg. Goldberg, an alumnus 
whose two kids attend Farber, said, 
“This is truly a historic moment for 
our school, bringing together Farber 
parents, grandparents, alumni and the 
broader Jewish community. For us, it 
symbolizes the future of the school, 
how we want our children to live their 
lives and a celebration of the values of 
what the school represents.
” 
Naomi Gardin, Farber’s manager 
of advancement, explained that the 
fundraising for the new Torah is being 
combined with the school’s annual 
fall campaign that aims to have 100% 
participation from Farber families, 
thanks to the accessible giving levels. 
“This is a milestone celebration. 
Torah is fundamental to what Farber 
Hebrew Day School is and our core 
value of Avodat HaShem. Having the 
opportunity to celebrate the arrival 
of our new Torah together with the 
wider Jewish community is a beautiful 
and special moment,
” Gardin said. 
The Torah has been a work in 
progress for years and sofer Rabbi 
Yehoshua Ellis of Oak Park was 
instrumental in connecting the school 
to Rabbi Avraham Grosmin, a sofer 
in Israel who is also a Zaka volunteer. 
After volunteering in Southern Israel 
after Oct. 7, Rabbi Grosmin was 
distraught and took a hiatus from his 
safrut work. It is only now, almost a 
year later, that he was able to complete 
the job.
“This Torah is really connected to 
the journey of our people this past 
year and everything that entails,
” said 

Rabbi Yechiel Morris of Young Israel 
of Southfield, Farber teacher for the 
past 16 years and interim Rav Beit 
Sefer at the school. 
The entire Farber student body 
has been eagerly anticipating 
this historic moment. Lefkowitz, 
whose four children attend Farber, 
explained, “This campaign has 
created excitement for Farber students 
across all divisions of the school, 
exemplifying that Farber is a family.
” 
Rabbi Morris shared that the 
energy at the pre-Shabbat ruach 
program in the elementary school was 
off the charts. 
“The entire place was rocking; 
everyone was dancing and singing,
” 
Rabbi Morris said. “It was so 
beautiful. It brought home the fact 
that we are engaging these kids, that 
they have a love for Yiddishkeit. Aside 
from having a practical use, this 
Torah is also symbolic in terms of our 

continued on page 12

continued from page 8

TOP LEFT: The late Amiel and Rachel Galazan. TOP RIGHT: Shayna Leib, Talya 
Bernhardt and Tziporah Cohen. ABOVE: Yitzchak Federman and Rabbi Ellis.

Elishama 
Ellis

OUR COMMUNITY

