Community update - Holocaust Torahs

This last Sunday, Rabbi Evon and I had the honor of joining Temple Or Rishon (TOR) as they welcomed a new Torah from the Westminster Trust collection into their community. The amazing story of these 1564 Torahs that were documented and saved during the holocaust in Czechoslovakia is in the link below starting at about minute 14. They are Torahs from both big and small towns throughout a large area of Czechoslovakia, have been lovingly restored to a kosher status and are now on permanent loan to synagogues and museums around the world.

As many of you know, I grew up in a non-religious home with mixed-married parents. My father, who was Jewish, came from a socialist background that rejected religion and the belief in God. I am third generation atheist and yes, this is an ongoing conversation between me and the rabbi.... But my ties to Judaism and love of Jewish life are strong and a pivotal part of my existence. What Jewish knowledge I have comes post high school from orthodox friends, time in Israel, college classes and my years of being connected to Hillel and various synagogues. Surprisingly, in all of those years I have never carried a Torah or held one beyond a fleeting minute. 

Temple Or Rishon invited synagogues that also have rescued Trust Torahs to bring them and be a part of the ceremony welcoming their "new" Torah Into its new home, where this precious Torah will once again become a live scroll to be read, loved and used to teach. It was an honor to be a part of it. 

And so, Rabbi Evon brought our TBY and NTHC Holocaust Torahs, as did two other synagogues and these four rescued Torahs accompanied the new TOR Torah in a procession to a new home and family.

We carried our Torahs up to the bimah and sat with them for more than 1 ½ hours.

I have only had a few deeply spiritual moments in my life, and this was certainly one of them.  It took me by surprise. As I carried our scroll into the sanctuary, sat with it against my shoulder and heart, I actually “felt” the warmth of what these scrolls had taught generations. Thought of the times of happiness and sorrow that each of these Torahs had witnessed over the years of their existence and felt the truth of our sacred scrolls being a living part of our lives. It felt as if I were touch a living and breathing soul.

Before the reading of the new Torah, we on the bimah were invited to carry our Torahs to accompany the new one during Hakafah (walking the Torah through the congregation before the reading). I got to see and more importantly to feel for the first time, the smiles and the joy of a congregation as they reached out to touch each scroll and kiss it as it passed. I saw people who were less mobile do whatever they could to either touch the scroll with their tallit or prayer book or at the very least touch someone who was able to physically touch each Torah. You could see in their faces the love for these Torahs and how they were saved. I could feel the joy emanating from them at the strength and connection of one Jew to another from dor l’dor (from generation to generation) and how you and I are also a part of that sacred chain. I have few words to describe how this touched my soul, but it was an experience and feeling I will never forget. 

Warmly,

Lisa Sinizer

TBY President