Chicago Shul Welcomes Torah

Congregation Bnei Ruven of Chicago recently welcomed a new Sefer Torah with great joy and celebration.

The Torah was commissioned by R’ Levi Staal and family in loving memory of his late father Avrohom Chaim ben Levi HaLevi, a Holocaust survivor and hidden child. The Torah was brought in right before his yahrtzeit.

The celebration began with the inscription of the final letters of the Torah at the Staal home with the sofer Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Marosow.

Rabbi Baruch Hertz explained the beauty of the Torah being in memory of a Holocaust survivor and its great zechus for the family. R’ Levi Staal also spoke about his father and what the Torah would mean for his memory, and he displayed a special letter which his grandmother wrote wrote to his father while sitting on the train to Westerboerk (en route to Sobibor), congratulating him on his successful escape from the Nazis. This was 2 weeks before his 15th birthday. The last line of the letter reads, “…please don’t forget us.”

The procession, accompanied by the Ruby Harris Band, passed other Shuls and was joined by many Rabbonim and dancing by members of the community and Mesivta bochrim until it arrived at Bnei Ruven where it was welcomed by the other Torahs.

It was brought into the large shul, which will soon be renovated including a brand new aron kodesh.

Many area Shluchim, Rabbonim and community leaders were honored with writing a letter in the Torah. Hakafos, dancing and refreshments continued inside the Bnei Ruven Shul followed by a grand farbrengen.