TORAH & MESORAH
The Sephardic Minyan Thrives at Mesivta
Chaim Shlomo
Ever since the presentation of a majestic Sephardic Sefer Torah by Mr . and Mrs . Shelomo Sarway in Tishrei of 5780 ( 2019 ), Mesivta Chaim Shlomo ’ s Sephardic minyan has experienced a revitalization . ( The minyan , first established by Mr . Richard Altabe in 1999 when he served as dean of secular studies , had never possessed its own Sefer Torah mehudar before .)
Meeting once a week for Shaharit – in addition to Rosh Hodesh – and for Selihot throughout the month of Elul , the minyan empowers the many Sephardic talmidim of Darchei Torah to reinforce the connection to their mesorah while thriving together with all of their fellow bachurim in the Yeshiva .
“ The participants in the minyan are from middle school all the way up through Beis Medrash ,” explains Rav Daniel Gavrielov , who serves as assistant principal of the Mechina ( Grade 8 ) and leads the Sephardic minyan , “ and they are truly active participants . They take turns being gabbai , serving as chazzan , and reading the Torah . This is definitely a highlight of our week .”
The Sephardic minyan meets in the centrally-located Diamond Otzar Hasefarim on the first floor of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo , where a custom-built wooden aron kodesh and fireproof safe house the Sefer Torah . In addition , Mesivta menahel Rav Zevi Trenk commissioned the construction of a tevah , or flatsurfaced bimah , by the staff of the Weiss Vocational Center .
The Yeshiva is grateful to Shelomo Sarway , a loyal alumnus of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo and Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid , for his dedication of the Sefer Torah and for his continued interest in the growth of the minyan .
BEDARCHEI HATORAH WINTER 5782 / 2022 33