Keeping Torah Alive

$11,266   raised
GOAL: $9,900

128

 Donors

Join our community of supporters and we can make a difference

This campaign is currently closed.

The Jewish Innovation

Join Circles for Jewish Living (CJL) in buying a Torah. CJL is an independent educational organization of mostly unaffiliated and interfaith families. We offer home based classes for students and adults.

Purchasing the Torah is a next step to anchor our community without walls that was founded in 2010 in Northampton, Massachusetts. It will allow families to stake a claim in our rich heritage, through a very tangible “personal” Torah, the link that connects our modern lives to ancient text. It will allow students multiple opportunities to study directly from the scroll before bar/bat mitzvah ceremonies and will generate new adult learning.

Taking ownership and responsibility of a Torah is part of our legacy. When you donate to this campaign you will have an opportunity to honor someone you love by sharing their name on our website http://www.circlesforjewishliving.com/torah-campaign These names will be transferred to the Tallit (prayer shawl) that will be wrapped around the Torah, connecting all of us. Join us in keeping Torah alive!

The Hampshire Gazette published an article about our campaign. http://www.gazettenet.com/news/21224993-95/western-massachusetts-nontraditional-jewish-organization-looking-to-buy-a-torah-of-its-own

The Impact

There are fewer Jewish families committed to Jewish engagement and education in the U.S. each year. In the past 6 years, CJL has connected 45 unaffiliated and interfaith families, who have now, in one form or another, expressed their connection to the tribe. Enthusiasm among CJL families, generated by the opportunity to purchase a Torah, is high. A Torah will shape CJL’s personal and communal identity and spark connections in the greater community when we share the Torah with other local groups.

The scroll up close taps into the spiritual beauty, awe and deep roots that link generations of Jews. CJL will continue this tradition, linking generations of Jews with a personalized Tallit inscribed with the names of those you love. Your participation in this campaign will elevate and anchor CJL’s ability to connect Jewish families to Torah and tradition.

What Will You Do with the Money?

Our objective is to purchase a Torah that our local scribe is selling on behalf of the Ray Torah Institute – www.assiyah.com. The Torah panels written by various scribes makes this patchwork Torah financially viable for CJL. It had a long life in L.A. before coming to Western Massachusetts. The money we raise will pay for the Torah, programming for the spring dedication celebration, and the creation of the inscribed Tallit wrap. If our goal is surpassed, additional funds will be used for scholarships to support b’nai mitzvah and after school student tuition. Specifically, we would like to help a family in need celebrate a Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

CJL has a fiscal sponsor in Avoda Arts and all contributions are tax-deductible according to IRS (501(c)3) regulations.

Join our community of supporters and we can make a difference

This campaign is currently closed.

More Ways to Learn About this Cause

No new updates
2016-04-12
Offline donations
$2682
2016-03-22
Shanee and Moshe
$36
2016-03-20
Howard Goralnick
$72
2016-03-17
Adam Glantz
$5
2016-03-15
Judy Leeds
$72
2016-03-10
Deb Courage
$72
2016-03-10
Greg Marcus
2016-03-10
Rhoda & Jay Klarsfeld
2016-03-10
The Willers Family
2016-03-06
Abby and Benson Luddy-Dunn
$72
2016-03-06
Claire and Al Zuckerman
2016-03-06
Judy Shapiro
2016-03-05
Jan Hackman
2016-03-05
Anonymous donor
2016-03-05
Anonymous donor
$36
2016-03-04
Alice Goodman
2016-03-04
Barry Elbaum
2016-03-04
David Bloomberg
2016-03-04
Kenneth & Tamar Schaum
$360
2016-03-04
Mark Goldberg
2016-03-02
Iris and David Berkman
$36
2016-03-01
Bob Weinstein & Marthe Bramley
2016-03-01
Kathy Goos
2016-02-29
Anonymous donor
$2
2016-02-29
Henry Rosenberg
$36
2016-02-29
Lois Dubin
2016-02-29
Marcy Eisenberg
2016-02-29
Sheron Rupp
2016-02-26
Anonymous donor
$25
2016-02-26
Judi Haskell
$18
2016-02-26
Judith Fine
2016-02-26
Julie Reiss
2016-02-26
Richard Brunswick
2016-02-26
Susan Weiss and Isabel Darmon-Weiss
$72
2016-02-24
Babette and David
2016-02-24
Bella and Anni Greenbacher
$11
2016-02-24
Beth and Jerome Greenwald
2016-02-24
Anonymous donor
2016-02-24
Anonymous donor
$36
2016-02-24
Ilana Polyak
2016-02-24
Joseph Cohen
$36
2016-02-24
The Gottlieb Family
2016-02-23
Abrams/Fantini
$72
2016-02-22
Ron and Cleo
$36
2016-02-21
Julie & David Starr
2016-02-20
Heidi Haas
2016-02-20
Norm Goralnick
$180
2016-02-20
The Civjan Family
2016-02-19
Carol and Jay Marlin
$180
2016-02-19
Anonymous donor
$36
2016-02-19
Anonymous donor
$72
2016-02-19
Anonymous donor
2016-02-18
Barry Feingold & Marci Yoss
2016-02-18
Anonymous donor
2016-02-18
Lubowsky Family
$36
2016-02-18
Lucy and Jake Greenburg
2016-02-18
michelle miller
2016-02-17
Andrea Zuckerman
2016-02-17
Debra Novitch and Wayne Schweitzer
$36
2016-02-17
Hilary Ryder
$18
2016-02-17
Anonymous donor
2016-02-17
Kenneth Black
$10
2016-02-16
Anonymous donor
2016-02-12
Aryeh and Rachel
$36
2016-02-12
Bob & Debora
$36
2016-02-11
Jo Shuman
$36
2016-02-11
Joel Kantrowitz
$36
2016-02-10
Anonymous donor
$20
2016-02-10
Janis Levy
2016-02-10
Julie Rozenfeld
2016-02-10
Ken and Roxann Weinstein
$72
2016-02-10
The Fishman Family
$36
2016-02-10
Toby, Dave and Evan
2016-02-09
Matt and Marilee Cole
2016-02-08
Brad, Meg, Marek and Rosa
$36
2016-02-08
Weinstein Family
2016-02-07
Amanda Costin and Becky Shaw
2016-02-07
Mimi Kaplan
2016-02-06
Anonymous donor
2016-02-04
Hannah
$36
2016-02-04
Viki Gable
2016-02-03
Anonymous donor
$50
2016-02-02
Ellen Carter and David Weidenfeld
2016-02-02
Hannah Berenson
$36
2016-02-02
Marci Yoss
2016-02-02
Randi Klein
2016-02-02
Saralee Hofrichter
2016-02-02
Stephanie Silverman & Adam Garretson
2016-02-02
Susie and Louis Greenwald
$36
2016-02-01
Howard Alter
$180
2016-02-01
Lazer and Diggy Morse Feldman
$100
2016-02-01
Seldin/ Wheat Family
2016-02-01
Shana Sureck
$36
2016-01-30
Larry & Susan Schiffman
2016-01-29
Amy Rothenberg & Paul Herscu
2016-01-29
debra reynolds
2016-01-29
Jane Fleishman and Joan Tabachnick
$36
2016-01-29
Reva and Sumner Weisman
2016-01-28
Deb Krivoy and Jenn Einhorn
2016-01-28
Anonymous donor
2016-01-28
Anonymous donor
2016-01-28
katie gerstle
2016-01-27
Adrienne
2016-01-27
Bob Marmor
2016-01-27
Christine Young
2016-01-27
Ed
2016-01-27
Nancy Flam
2016-01-26
Abel-Waisman family
2016-01-26
Anonymous donor
2016-01-26
Anonymous donor
2016-01-26
Anonymous donor
2016-01-26
Anonymous donor
2016-01-26
Evan Greenland
2016-01-26
Greenbacher Family
$180
2016-01-26
Joanna Grand, David Marlin, Eli and Max
2016-01-26
Jonah Zuckerman
$108
2016-01-26
Leeba & Reuben
2016-01-26
Leora and Jay Friedman
2016-01-26
Paula Yolles
2016-01-26
Rebecca Busansky
$108
2016-01-26
Renee Wetstein
$100
2016-01-26
Ricki Carroll
2016-01-26
Sarah Swersey
2016-01-26
Sheldon Busansky
2016-01-26
Simona Pozzetto & Ed Weisman
$25
2016-01-26
The Levy Gullas
2016-01-26
The Rose-Langstons
2016-01-26
Therese Williams

This campaign deals with:

Education & Youth | Jewish Communities

Keeping Torah Alive

$11,266   raised
GOAL: $9,900

128

 Donors

Campaign organizer profile img
Campaign by
Circles for Jewish LIving
MA, USA

CJL is an educational organization inspiring community through the arts, culture, and learning. Founded in 2010 and based in Northampton, we value multiple perspectives, promote reflection, and link history to our lives in the twenty-first century. Classes and holiday celebrations take place in the homes of participating families. Alison Morse - Prior to establishing CJL, Alison served as the Director of Education for a synagogue community of 400 families. Responsibilities there included teaching (all ages), program and curricular development, teacher training and community facilitation. In recent years, Alison's work has been enhanced by studies at the SIT Graduate Institute.

  • a letter in the Torah is yours, metaphorically!
    12 claimed

  • a word in the Torah is yours, metaphorically! "V'yehe" - and it came to be!
    31 claimed

  • a sentence in the Torah is yours, metaphorically – now we’re getting somewhere!
    28 claimed

  • a paragraph in the Torah is yours, metaphorically - a story is forming!
    5 claimed

  • a column in the Torah is yours, metaphorically – deeper meaning unfolds!
    2 claimed

  • a Parsha (chapter) in the Torah is yours, metaphorically - now we can celebrate a bar mitzvah!
    0 claimed

  • one of the five books in the Torah is yours, metaphorically – the scroll revealed!!
    1 claimed

  • Don't see the amount you want to donate? Every contribution helps!

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