As we reach the final verses of the Torah in V'Zot HaBracha, Moshe Rabbeinu stands atop the mountain, gazing out over the land of Israel. Before him lies the fulfillment of Hashem's promise to Bnei Yisrael — a moment he has led them toward for forty years — yet he knows he will not cross into Eretz Yisrael with them. Though Moshe's deepest yearning was to complete his life's mission by entering Eretz Yisrael, his truest and most enduring legacy lies elsewhere. His eternal gift to the Jewish people is the act of transmission itself — passing the Torah forward to the next generation.
It is no coincidence that the final mitzvah in the Torah — the 613th — is the commandment for each Jew to write a Sefer Torah:"וְעַתָּה כִּתְבוּ לָכֶם אֶת הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת" (Devarim 31:19). This mitzvah is not only about writing a Sefer Torah; it is also about making the Torah personal, ensuring it lives within us, not merely around us. Each of us is called to renew and take ownership of the Torah, to see ourselves as part of its ongoing writing.
Moshe's final act models this beautifully. He completes the Torah and places it in the hands of the kohanim, declaring that it belongs to all of Israel. The story of the Torah does not end with Moshe; rather, it begins anew with each of us.
That message resonates deeply this week, as our community joins the family of Dr. Mark Steintzag, Mordechai ben Alexander z"l, in honoring his memory through the writing of a new Sefer Torah. Dr. Steintzag, the father of Maimonides parent and former faculty member Tanya Ospovat, was tragically killed in a terror attack at the Ramot Junction in Jerusalem on September 8, 2025 — taken, along with five other innocent souls, simply for living as a Jew in Eretz Yisrael.
Tanya describes her father as a man of rare vision, courage, and faith. Born in Minsk, Belarus, he rose to prominence as a physician before giving up a successful career to make aliyah and rebuild his life in Jerusalem. He became known for his pioneering healthy bread bakery and, later, for his complete devotion to Torah study, chesed, and community. His generosity, often quiet and unseen, touched countless lives through acts of kindness, loans to those in need, and hospitality to anyone without a place for Shabbat or holidays.
Remarkably, one of Dr. Steintzag's greatest passions was writing and dedicating Sifrei Torah. Over the years, he personally commissioned three Torah scrolls for shuls in Israel. Just two weeks before his tragic passing, he finalized plans to have a fourth Sefer Torah written for his local shul in Ramot. Tanya now feels it is her sacred responsibility to complete this Torah in her father's memory — a project that embodies his life's essence: Faith, learning, and love of Am Yisrael.
At Maimonides School, where Tanya once taught and where her son is a student, this initiative feels especially meaningful. Our mission, to nurture Torah learning, moral courage, and ahavat Yisrael, is brought to life when members of our community respond to loss with emunah and purpose. Our students learn that Torah is not simply studied — it is lived. When they witness such acts of resilience and devotion, they see that Torah is written not only on parchment, but also in the way we carry ourselves, the kindness we show, and the commitments we uphold.
As we conclude reading the Torah and begin Bereishit once again, our community stands on the threshhold of a moment of profound national emotion and gratitude. After 737 days of waiting and praying, we are witnessing, iy"h, the long-hoped-for return of our hostages from captivity in Gaza. As we rejoice with the hostage families and continue to pray for the safe return of both the living and the deceased kedoshim, we are reminded of the unbreakable bond that links every Jew — past, present, and future — through our shared Torah and destiny.
Writing a Sefer Torah, like welcoming the hostages home iy"h, is an act of faith in the eternal story of Am Yisrael. It affirms that no matter how deep the darkness, our people respond with light — with continuity, courage, and hope.
To learn more about the Sefer Torah being written in memory of Dr. Steintzag z"l, please visit Dr. Mark's Sefer Torah / The Chesed Fund to support this sacred project and take part in fulfilling the 613th mitzvah of the Torah.
May the Sefer Torah written in Dr. Steintzag's memory be a source of comfort to his family, and may it be a zechut for them, our hostages, our chayalim, our Maimonides community, and all of Klal Yisrael.
לזכר הקדוש ר' מרדכי בן אלכסנדר הי"ד
May his memory be a blessing.
