Six years ago, the Alishaev brothers noticed a great need for the Jewish community working in the area known as the Diamond District in New York City. This setting is well known for the cutting, polishing, and general trade of diamonds and other precious gems, but it took on a new meaning on Tuesday, November 12th. A grand Torah celebration like never before was held to solidify the expansion of the Manhattan branch of the Beth Gavriel Center. Onlookers from the surrounding area joined the 2,500 independent jewelers of the Diamond Jewelry Way for a spectacle worthy of a king.
New York City is no stranger to street closures normally for the haphazard security protocols of notables. The small strip of 47th Street running east and west between 5th and 6th Avenues was closed to vehicular traffic this past Tuesday afternoon to welcome a new glistening gem, a hachnasat Sefer Torah dedication to Beit Midrash Beth Gavriel located at 20 West 47th Street, NYC. Joyous sounds of Jewish melodies filled the brisk air with songs of praise to Hakadosh Baruch Hu for allowing this day to arrive. The glittering personality of the thoroughfare first established in middle of the 20th century welcomed a new jewel that as well took much painstaking work to envision and complete.
The Beth Gavriel Bet Midrash in Manhattan is now double in size to accommodate the local Jewish community. Daily, the hallways overfilled with worshippers and it became apparent that an expanded synagogue was the sole solution. With new furniture and shelving the shul was excited to include a precious Torah in its Aron Kodesh.
Rabbi Emmanuel Shimonov of the Beth Gavriel Community Center in Forest Hills, Queens was present for the spirited dancing and electrifying dancing alongside Rabbi Nisan Hakakian of Monsey. They each delivered inspirational words of chizuk to the energetic gathering at a special meal following the procession.
The ceremony concluded in the manner the dream developed with a powerful mincha service in the beautifully renovated beit midrash. The shul is open weekdays for six scheduled minyanim for both mincha and Aravit services in the ever-evolving religious needs of the Diamond District. Tefillin are also available to those in need.
The night before this event, an exclusive private celebration was held at Oligarch in Kew Gardens to complete the writing of this sacred Torah scroll. The writing of the last letters was a glorious event attended by friends and family of the broader Beth Gavriel community.
Rabbi Emmanuel Shimonov graced the attendees with heartfelt praise for the Alishaev family. Chief Bukharian Rabbi of the USA and Canada, Rabbi Yitzchak Yisraeli, honored those present with stimulating encouragement thanking Simcha Alishaev for his dedication to building the Bukharian community at home in Queens and at work in Manhattan. He also thanked the sponsors of the Sefer Torah, the Yusupov, Natanov and Mataev families of Austria. Rabbi Shmuel Alishaev who founded the Renowned Yeshiva Sha’arei Zion movement in Eretz Yisrael and in Queens was also at hand.
In conclusion, 95% of the United States’ diamonds pass the streets of the Diamond District, their sparkling wares regularly on display housing the world’s most precious stones and expensive jewels now have an everlasting gem in a Torah scroll to exhibit forever.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
New York’s Diamond District Shines Brighter Than Ever With Special Hachnasat Sefer Torah
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