Clarification for readers
This report concerns Woodstock, New York, in the Catskills region of Ulster County, where a Chabad congregation marked a milestone with a public Torah procession. It is not related to Woodstock, Ontario, in Oxford County.
First Torah completed; streets closed for procession
Chabad of Woodstock in the Catskills has completed its first Sefer Torah, marking the milestone on Yud Gimmel Tammuz with a community event that brought out hundreds of participants. Organizers closed streets through the centre of Woodstock, N.Y., to allow a parade route that moved from the Woodstock Community Center to the Village Green and onward to the congregation’s building.
The ceremony began with community members, friends and supporters invited to guide the writing of the Torah’s final letters alongside a sofer (scribe). Once the last character was inscribed, the Torah was raised and displayed, prompting singing and dancing that continued into a formal procession under a chuppah.
Public celebration with music and dancing
A live band, performing from a flatbed trailer, led the route as men and children danced around the scroll and families followed behind. The procession passed directly through the town’s commercial core, attracting residents and visitors who lined the way. Upon arrival at Chabad of Woodstock, the scroll was brought inside for hakafos (circuits) around the bima, followed by a celebratory seudat mitzvah.
Context: A milestone for a growing congregation
According to organizers, the event capped nearly seven years of community-building by Rabbi Mendy Karczag and Shaindy Karczag, who moved to Woodstock, N.Y., at the suggestion of Rabbi Yitzchak Hecht, head shliach of Chabad of Ulster County. Since their arrival, the couple has established a regular Shabbos minyan, begun Torah classes, and offered Yom Tov programs, children’s activities and broader community events that have drawn local Jewish residents and seasonal visitors to the area.
- Where it began: Final letters inscribed at the Woodstock Community Center
- Route: Through the centre of Woodstock, N.Y., under a chuppah to the Village Green and the shul
- Participation: Hundreds in attendance; live band on a flatbed trailer
- Conclusion: Hakafos around the bima and a seudat mitzvah
Significance of the date and ritual
The completion took place on Yud Gimmel Tammuz, known in Chabad tradition as the Chag Hageulah of the Frierdiker Rebbe. The day, observed annually, marks themes of spiritual resilience and communal continuity. While the congregation emphasized celebration and public visibility, the central act remained the ritual completion of the scroll’s text, letter by letter, under a scribe’s guidance.
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| Torah completion | Final letters inscribed at a community event |
| Public procession | Closed-street route with live music through central Woodstock, N.Y. |
| Ceremonies | Hakafos, dancing, and a seudat mitzvah at the shul |
What residents saw and how the day unfolded
For onlookers in the Catskills town, the procession combined pageantry and religious observance. The chuppah signalled honour for the scroll, the music provided cadence for the marchers and dancers, and the closed streets ensured a safe corridor for the crowd. The event also served as a public marker of an expanding local program of worship and education developed over several years by the congregation’s leadership.
As the Torah entered its new home, participants formed circles for the hakafos before sitting down to the festive meal that typically follows such ceremonies. Organizers reported a strong turnout from both local congregants and visitors, reflecting the area’s mix of full-time residents and people passing through during the region’s busy season.
