Buckhead Shul Celebrates First Torah Scroll

On Sunday, Nov. 23, the Buckhead Shul community gathered for the milestone moment in dedicating its first Torah scroll. More than 200 people attended the celebration, which drew families, supporters, and rabbis from across Georgia, as well as visitors from Florida, Myrtle Beach, and South Carolina.

The Torah was dedicated by Amit and Zack Feldberg in honor of their parents, whose generosity made the project possible, along with major contributions from Mendy and Opal Ruder, Jonathan and Louisa Zufi, and the Ahlzadeh family. Rabbi Yisrael New remarked, “The dedication of our first Torah scroll represents not only an important accomplishment, but a turning point. A Torah is the foundation of Jewish communal life as an anchor, guide, and symbol of continuity. Bringing one into the community for the first time signals a new level of stability, identity, and future growth.”

The scroll was written in Israel, commissioned specifically for Buckhead, as a meaningful connection to Jewish tradition. Before the procession, participants helped complete the Torah. The final 43 letters were filled in by members of the community, each reciting a blessing and taking part in the mitzvah. Guided by Rabbi Ariel Asa, these individual moments formed one collective expression of unity and ownership. For many, it was a rare and deeply personal encounter with Jewish tradition.

The celebration continued outdoors with a lively Hachnasat Torah scroll procession through the streets of Buckhead. Music, singing, and dancing accompanied the scroll as it was carried under a chuppah, winding through familiar neighborhood streets and passing the well-known corner of “Jesus Junction,” the long-standing home of many churches. The scene was joyful, public, and full of Jewish pride. Supporter Zack Feldberg said, “My wife and I are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to donate the Torah to the Chabad Buckhead community in honor of my parents, Robert and Elaine Feldberg, and my in-laws, Gabi and Limor Shitrit. We look forward to seeing Rabbi New and the community grow and wish them all the revealed blessings.”

Among the guests was Rabbi Yossi New, regional director of Chabad of Georgia, who attended both as the state’s representative and as a proud father. Rabbi Yossi New spoke about the remarkable growth he has witnessed in the Buckhead Shul and the importance of this moment in its development. He emphasized that a Torah symbolizes the people it unites.

“A Torah is made up of hundreds of thousands of letters, and if even one is missing, the scroll is considered incomplete. The same is true of a community. Every individual matters. Every person is essential. Together, we create something whole.”

He added that the participation of so many families in writing the final letters was a powerful reflection of the shared identity forming in Buckhead. The community then gathered for a celebratory meal featuring a Moroccan-style menu prepared by the parents of Amit, Limor, and Gavriel Shitrit.

Rabbi Yisrael New, spiritual leader of the Buckhead Shul, shared further reflections on the milestone. “As our community continues to grow, having a permanent home in the Cora & Stanley Solon Jewish Center of Buckhead, has been a significant milestone. Now with the arrival of our own Torah scroll, that home feels truly complete. A building is a space, but a Torah gives it direction and purpose. This Torah will serve as a steady anchor for our community, guiding and connecting us as we continue to build community together.”

As the Torah was placed in the ark for the first time, the emotion in the room reinforced a statement of who and what this relatively new community is and what it’s becoming.

Jonathan Zufi concluded, “I’m deeply grateful to the Feldberg family for dedicating this … it strengthens our spiritual mission to expand Jewish life in Buckhead and the surrounding areas. Rabbi Yisrael New has been an incredible force in bringing Jews of all ages into our community. I’m honored to work alongside him and his energetic team of young professionals to continue Chabad’s mission of strengthening and revitalizing Jewish life.”