On Sunday, November 15, Baltimore saw an unusual spectacle. Long known as a distinctly Litvish town, the Hachnosas Sefer Torah celebrated that day demonstrated the growth of the Chassidic community. Rabbi Yitzchok and Mrs Gitty Neger commissioned the writing of a SeferTorah in memory of Mrs. Neger's father, Max Knopf,z"l of Brooklyn, and Rabbi Neger's parents Moshe and Chana Neger z"l of Toronto.
Like all such ceremonies, the final letters were inscribed at the home of the Baalei Simcha and various communal notables were honored with inscribing letters. The procession down Strathmore Avenue to Khal Machzikei Torah was led by a truck with amplified singing and music by local singing sensation, Yehuda Mond. He was followed by young boys carrying torches and the Sefer Torah under a chupah was escorted by several hundred members of the community. Old Timers remarked that such a public expression of Kovod Hatorah, dancing and singing in the street, with police escort would simply not have happened in Baltimore in a past generation.
It is a sign of the vibrancy of the community.Founded by Holocaust survivors and led by Rabbi Yitzchok Sternhell zt"l, Khal Machzikei Torah is today led by Harav Nesanel Kostelitz and is a hub of Torah and chassidus for a new generation. Recently , the opening of the Chassidic Kollel has brought many young families to the neighborhood , who participated in the simcha. They have been warmly welcomed and made to feel at home.
The dancing in the street lasted for an hour and then the Sefer Torah was greeted by Sifrei Torah and placed into the Aron Kodesh amid much joyous celebration.
Following this,there was a Seudas Mitzvah in the Royal Restaurant attended by family ,friends and notables. Among the honored guests wasthe son of the Skulener Rebbe ,Rabbi Noach Portugal shlita Rav of Skulen in Lakewood. He who spoke of the close ties between the Neger family and his zaide,the Skulener Rebbe, going back to Romania. Rabbi Shafer, rosh hayeshiva in Lakewood East Jerusalem who came from Eretz Yisroel specifically for this event presented Reb Yitzchok with a sefer inscribed with words of praise and blessing signed by Rav Chaim Kanievski, shlita.
The Morah D'Asra, Harav Kostelitz spoke of the devotion of Reb Yitzchokto the Kehila of which he is the long time President. He recalled the\parents in whose memory the Torah is dedicated and praised their devotion to Derech Yisroel Saba. Rav Yaakov Hopfer, President of the Vaad Harabbanim of Baltimore also gave moving divrei brocho.
In his remarks, the Baal Simcha, Reb Yitzchok Neger spoke movingly of his departed parents and father in law who all were survivors of the Holocaust who rebuilt their lives and raied doros yesharim. Despite going through the Gehinnom of Aushwitz and other horrors, they rebult their lives to follow the ways of their ancestors and supported and epitomized what it means to be a Torah Jew. Today, their children and later generations are pillars of their communities who are devoted to learning Torah and following the example of their ancestors. He also praised his mother in law, Mrs.Rika Knopf ,who is a living example to all of her children ,grandchildren and great grandchildren .
All wished the Negers continued nachas from their children and grandchildren who are seeing the example set by their parents in Torah.,Avodah and Gemilus Chassadim.
