New ark for Torah dedicated at Beth ElReprinted with permission of The Bennington Banner This is the first of two articles on Congregation Beth El, its recent dedication of a new ark for the Torah, and Rabbi Arthur Green, who was scholar-in-residence at the congregation. BENNINGTON -- A joyous celebration at Congregation Beth Israel marked the recent dedication of a new ark to hold the congregation's Torah. In Judaism the Torah is a parchment scroll consisting of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. The common names of the books in English are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The wooden cabinet where Torahs are usually kept in a synagogue is called an ark. As part of a renovation and expansion of its facility, Congregation Beth El has a new ark, dedicated to the memory of Ida May Mahler and designed by congregation member Stella Ehrich. As were other aspects of the renovation when the dedication was held on Saturday, Nov. 19, the ark was not completely finished but was ready for its appointed task. The Torah was taken from and returned to the new ark that morning as part of the weekly Sabbath, or Shabbat, service. "There's not really a set collection of prayers for dedicating a new ark, that I know of at least, but I want to offer some short words," said Rabbi Joshua Boettiger. Several other rabbis were present, including Howard Cohen, a past rabbi at Beth El. A number of visitors from Israel Congregation in Manchester were also present, in part because of a special three-part lecture series being held at both houses of worship by Rabbi Arthur Green. "This renovation project is ongoing, just as revelation is ongoing. I don't say this to be glib – at least not completely," he said to laughter. "I think rabbis try to make meaning of everything, but I think there is something to be said to dedicating something in the process of becoming." He pointed out two Hebrew verses in the sanctuary. In English, the verse on the new ark is "Choose life that you may live." The verse which used to be over the former ark, which is now over the entryway is "God led the people by way of the wilderness." Boettiger thanked those involved in creating the new ark and with the synagogue renovations, including Ehrich and the Mahler family. "I want to thank Rabbi Green for being here because I think it's perfect for us to be able to learn Torah," he said. "A weekend of serious Torah learning the same weekend that we're dedicating the ark is a huge benefit to us and to all those who have been involved with the ark's becoming." Green is the rector of the Rabbinical School at Hebrew College and the author of several books, most recently "Radical Judaism: Rethinking God and Tradition." "I didn't know I was coming to this particular event, but a few words in honor of the ark make sense," Green said at the beginning of his lecture. He said there are two words for ark in Hebrew used in the Torah. One is used for the tabernacle that Moses built in the desert and another for Noah's ark, which is also the word for the basket Moses was put in as a baby to float down the Nile. This latter word became the rabbinc word for the ark in a synagogue and it also means "word" in Hebrew. So one of the central figures of early Hasidism said, "Enter the ark, enter with your whole self. You and your whole family come into the ark ... enter the word, the word of prayer is the ark." "So we too have an ark in the synagogue and we also have an ark in our prayer lives, the word of prayer is the ark we enter into," Green said. "We come into that ark with our whole self, the same way Noah and his whole household came into the ark. "I wish this ark may be one that you can all enter with your whole selves and your whole household and whole community and enjoy and learn from it for many years to come and think of it also as the inspirer of the inner ark which is the words of prayer that you also walk into," Green said. Reach Mark Rondeau at mrondeau@benningtonbanner.com |
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