AUR TORAH SEPHARDIC MINYAN
1180 Rockland Ave
Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 494-8935
 
   
WELCOME
 

Latest News
 
 

Over 26 years of tradition, warmth and caring distinguish Aur Torah, where our founders made history by establishing Staten Island's first Sephardic Minyan in 1978.

Our Synagogue strives to make Sephardic heritage relevant to our lives by providing a solid foundation for members spiritual, intellectual, and social needs. As a congregation we adhere to the principles of  traditional Sephardic judaism with the warmth of song, prayer, sermons, learning, social events and community service that add meaning to our lives.

We have just put up a new building to accommodate the influx of Sephardic Jews. We invite you to connect with your Sephardic roots by visiting us at Aur Torah. You can easily, - and best - experience the spirit of our community by attending our services.
 
Our Rabbi, Aharon Zeev is so knowledgeable in the Torah that he gives chapter and verse in his delivery of the sermons. Rabbi Zeev is an accomplished "Hazan", with a beautiful voice which he  uses in conducting the  services, in the traditional Sephardic and oriental melodies.
We look forward to seeing you and hope to welcome you as a member. Thank you for visiting us.
 
   
LESSONS FROM OUR SAGES
 
On Deeds of Loving Kindness He Said: 
I desire mercy not sacrifice (Hosea 1:70) . For it said, the world is built on loving kindness, in the very heavens you establish your faithfulness (Psalms 89:3). He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed. (Proverbs 19:17).
 
Ethic of the Fathers: 
Say little and do much, receive all men cheerfully. Render judgments that are true, and make peace. Man looks at the outward appearance, The Eternal looks at the heart. Judge not your fellow man, until your in his place.
 
The Proclamation of Shema:
G'd said to Israel: I did not impose on you to read the "Shema," neither standing on your feet, or standing on your heads, but only at your convenience, when you sit in your house and when you walk on your way. 
 
The Love of Fellow Man: 
The Rabbis said: "He who loves G'd must love his fellow man, and whoever hates his fellow man hates G'd." They declare G'd would rather have us ignore him by abstaining from prayer and worship than ignore our obligation to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. They stress the need for compassion for the widow and orphan and insist that one only be sensitive to the physical discomfort of others, but must be considerate of their feelings, never embarrass anyone or putting another to shame.
    
The Rabbis do not consider man as a helpless pawn of fate, but rather as a "partner  of G'd" in the unfinished work of creation. While they recognize that some of life's experiences are beyond man's control, they declare that in the realm of moral choice this is not the case; that man is endowed with freedom of will, can choose between good and evil and master his own impulses, and is therefore responsible for his conduct.
   
The inscription in the Menorah is King David's Psalm 30 which is a "Song for the dedication of the Temple." It is recited in the ritual for lighting the Hanukah Menorah. The two seals on the bottom of the pictorial are the blessings which precede the song of dedication that are recited for lighting the candles in  the Hanukah Menorah.

Insights into the word Hanukah: The root of the word in Hebrew means dedication (Hinuch). In breaking down the word into syllables 'Hanu" in Hebrew means rested, and "kah" is the number 25. They rested on the 25th. (of  Kislev) which is the first day of Hanukah in the Hebrew calendar.
     
Hechal: "Aron Hakodesh" is the repository for the Sefer Torah (Scrolls of the Law). It forms the synagogues most important architectural feature and is beautifully designed and ornamented. A curtain called Parochet which is elaborately embroidered, is hung either in front or behind the doors of the Hechal. In talmudic times it was portable and brought into the synagogue only when needed for the service; but for over a thousand years it has become customary to build the Hechal on the eastern wall of the synagogue. The direction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
 
     




Sephardic scrolls of the Torah are placed in a case called a "Tik" and are placed upright in the repository called "Hechal" (Almemar). The Tik is made out of wood and may be decorated with inlays of various materials. Most popular are those covered with silver that have embossed  decorations.

Two removable ornaments on top are called  "Rimmonim" (Hebrew. Pomegranates) are usually made of silver or gold.