Historic (Sefer) Torah to Eugene

In mid-February, over President's Day weekend, the Halachic Minyan will be having a Hachnasas Sefer Torah, installing a Scroll that has been donated to the shul by a very special individual from New York. This particular Sefer Torah had been hidden away during the Holocaust and was brought out of Poland only recently by the donor himself. He discovered the existence of a number of such Sifrei Torah and has gone to great lengths to rescue and repair them, and place them with shuls that are in need. Upon hearing of the Minyan's need for a Torah, Mr. Leon Goldenberg of New York made the "shidduch" between the donor and the shul. It is a magnificent honor for the Eugene Jewish community to be able to serve as the new home for this historic Torah.

This will be an awe-inspiring event for Eugene Jewry. Since the birth of the Halachic Minyan a few short years ago, traditional Judaism has taken root and blossomed. The installation of this historic Sefer Torah will be a landmark event in the life of our community. As the Sefer Torah comes from Poland and takes its place in Eugene, we celebrate the cultivation of Torah in far flung corners of America.

Workshops for kids and classes for adults on the topic of The Sefer Torah are being planned for the weeks ahead. For more information about the classes and the celebration, call the Minyan office at 334-6772.


The above illustrations are from The Tattooed Torah (UAHC Press New York, NY), Martin Lemelman