1,000 People Join Torah Dedication in Florida on First Yartzeit

By COLlive reporter

Hundreds of people poured into the parking lot of Beit Moshiach in the Lauderhill neighborhood of Inverrary, Florida on Wednesday night for a grand celebration of a Siyum Sefer Torah dedicated in honor of the first yartzeit of the much-beloved Rabbi Motty Anati OBM.

Especially attracting the Israeli population living in South Florida, Rabbi Anati built a shul and Moshiach Community Center, a smicha program for yeshiva students, a day camp and a preschool. His sudden passing a year ago left the community with a void that they have been inspired to fill by continuing Rabbi Anati’s work.

The event began with a moon bounce for children and hors d’oeuvre were served while the crowd, which some estimated reached 1,000 people, gathered around the beautiful new Sefer Torah as its final letters were being completed.

Among those completing the writing of the letters was Assistant Fire Chief of Lauderhill Fire Rescue, Jeff Levy, and Chief of Lauderhill Police Department Alan Siegel, both of whom are Jewish and felt close to Rabbi Anati.

At its unveiling, a boys marching band welcomed the Torah to the chuppah alongside a brand new large mitzvah tank to be used for mivtzoim in the Sunshine State. A large procession of men, women and children followed the Torah and new mitzvah tank with a musical performance aboard it, led by singer and community member Yaakov Young and accompanied by Mendy Shapira. After hakafos and a chanukas habayis at the newly renovated expansion of the main shul, the large crowd moved to an oversized tent with a catered meal, live music and honorary guests.

A candle was lit in memory of the Surfside victims by family members of the victims, as everyone sang Ani Mamin. Many relatives and friends of the victims were in attendance.

Among those who spoke about Rabbi Anati’s accomplishments for the greater community were County Commissioner Dale Holness, Vice Mayor Denise D. Grant and Former Commissioner Richard Campbell. They officially proclaimed that day, Wednesday, July 21st, 2021, as “Rabbi Mordechai Anati Remembrance Day” in Broward County by the board of county commissioners on behalf of Mayor Steven Geller.

Close friends, students and family members spoke of Rabbi Anati’s unique role in their lives. There was also a smichah graduation ceremony for yeshiva students.

Rabbi Anati was born in Israel in 1953 and served as a paratrooper and officer in the IDF for 5 years. After finishing the army in 1976, Rabbi Anati moved to FL and settled in Lauderhill in 1980. He became a successful businessman for aluminum products and his business became one of the most successful ones in the US. In 1986, Rabbi Anati married Michele and had two children, Ben and Hannah. With blessings from the Rebbe, he opened Moshiach Center 770 in 1993.

Always active in his community, his goal was to make a home for every single Jew. During the holidays, he would go out of his way to make everyone feel the festivities. On Chanukah he would drive around with a menorah on top of his car, handing out donuts. On Sukkos, he would attach a sukkah to his car so that everyone could enjoy the holiday with him. Throughout Rabbi Anati’s 30 years in Lauderhill, the Jewish community has grown tremendously and he touched so many lives.

“There’s nowhere I go in South Florida where I don’t meet someone who was impacted by my husband,” Michele Anati shared at the festive dinner following the Siyum Sefer Torah. The new Torah will be housed at the Moshiach Center 770, which is under plans for a new structure to be built resembling 770.