New York, New York, January 4th 2008 – The historic Jewish event will be a worldwide broadcast of eight Torah scrolls being dedicated in memory of the eight boys who were murdered while learning Torah. The event will take place on the one-year anniversary of the attack, February 24th, 2009 in Jerusalem, Israel at Yeshivat Mercaz Harav. The event hopes to attract tens of thousands of people participating live at the dedication, while hundreds of thousands view the live broadcast online.
In addition to the Torah scroll dedication, a global learning initiative and mitzvah (good deeds) campaign in memory of the victims who devoted their lives to these causes has been launched. “The purpose of this is to create an unprecedented celebration of unity to commemorate these eight students and the Torah to which they were so committed,” explains Jeremy Joszef of Woodmere, NY, one of the project’s organizers.
An anonymous family from the New York area is funding the project and event, while a small group of young adults along with hundreds of volunteers from around the world are organizing it. The volunteers are using all avenues of communication in order to spread the event to all corners of the world. They have already reached 50,000 people in less than a month and continue to build momentum as the event draws closer.
The project is operating under the title of “B’lev Echad,” the Hebrew term for “one heart.” It is not being associated with any specific organization in the hopes that it will attract Jews from across the religious and political spectrum. “We could have easily gotten any organization to back us, but we specifically did not want to attach ourselves to any organization and bring in any politics,” the anonymous family emphasized. “We didn’t want to turn off any types of people from any community.”
Participants who sign up will receive specific instructions regarding what to learn, with content geared toward both young people and adults. Schools will receive resource material, including signage, preparatory learning packets, and details about the 8-for-8 mitzvah campaign including suggested projects. All this information and more can be found at blevechad.com
About B’lev Echad – B’lev Echad is a grassroots organization that is committed to involving everyone who is interested in participating in a meaningful and inspirational tribute. B’lev Echad is apolitical by design and as such is able to transcend borders regardless of religious persuasion/commitment and political affiliation and agenda. B’lev Echad is being funded by a family from the New York area and seeks no other funding.
