By COLlive reporter
In 1989, after years of living under the Communist regime, Naftali (Tony) German arrived in the U.S. in hope of a better life and freedom of religion. Tony had very few dollars in his pocket, but he did not come empty-handed.
He arrived with a 100-year-old Torah. Naftali’s father, Chaim German, faithfully attended a small synagogue in Gomel, Belarus. Before he died, Chaim made his son promise that he would save the Torah from the hands of the Communists.
Thankfully, Naftali was able to fulfill his father’s wish. “My father’s request drove me to rescue the Torah despite the risks,” he said.
Coming to the Albany region, Naftail wanted to give his precious Torah to a shul which did not have a Torah of its own so that his father’s Torah would be used on a daily basis.
The Torah scroll parchment sheets were reassembled by a certified scribe, and it waited in Naftali’s home for 20 years, until it found its home in the Colonie Chabad Chai Jewish Center, directed by Rabbi Mordechai and Chana Rubin.
On Wednesday, June 26th, the Colonie Jewish community gathered for the re-dedication ceremony of the Torah, the first Torah dedication in the Town of Colonie, a suburb of Albany in New York.
A large crowd gathered to join in the celebration, enjoying a delicious spread, face painting for children, music, and inspirational words shared by Rabbi and Mrs. Rubin about the significance of the occasion.
“This Torah, more than any Torah, embodies the message of our strength and victory in the face of oppression, and that is what makes this occasion truly a joyous gathering”, said Mrs. Rubin.
The climax of the event was when the Torah was lifted up, placed in its new cover, crowned in its beautiful new silver crown donated by the Massry family and kissed by all who attended. A chupah canopy was erected to welcome the Torah to its new home. The Torah was held under the chupah while traditional verses were chanted to welcome the Torah to its new home.
“Our sages taught that each and every Jew has a letter in the Torah corresponding to his/her soul root and spiritual personality. Just as each word is an essential part of the Torah, so too each and every Jew is of utmost importance and constitutes an essential and integral part of the Jewish people”, said Rabbi Mordechai Rubin the director of the Colonie Chai Jewish Center.
Rabbi Mordechai and Chana Rubin are the Shluchim to Colonie, NY. Help the Colonie Chai Center by clicking here.
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