New Torah for Cambodia Chabad

After more than a year of reading from a Torah that was loaned to them, Chabad of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, directed by Shluchim Rabbi Bentzion and Mashie Butman, completed the writing of a brand new Torah on Sunday.

The Torah was dedicated by Mr. Jonathan Guberek of Bogota, Colombia, received with the assistance of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky of Chabad headquarters and Rabbi Yehoshua Rosenfeld of Chabad of Colombia. Mr. Guberek sponsored the Torah, written in Israel, in memory of his grandparents Baruj and Gitel.

The completion ceremony was held at the five star Sofitel Hotel, where a ten-man musical band trained exclusively for the event performed.

Guests from all over the world arrived to celebrate the special occasion, including Mr. Jonathan Guberek from Bogota, Colombia, Rabbi Butman’s mother Mrs. Dvorah Butman, Rabbi Butman’s uncle Rabbi Yehuda Butman – director of Chabad in Ramat Hasharon, Israel, Mrs. Mashie Butman’s brother Levi Moscowitz from Los Angeles, California as well as Shluchim from Bangkok, Thailand, Koh Samui, Thailand, Seoul, S. Korea and HCMC, Vietnam.

Jews came from all over Cambodia, including Batambang, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Ratanakiri.

The Torah was completed and welcomed to the Chabad center with singing and dancing.

As a special souvenir, a miniature Torah made in Cambodia was given out to all participants of this monumental event.