On 22 Elul, a new Sefer Torah written in England finally made its way to its permanent home in Mariupol, Ukraine.
Sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Mendy Levy of the London suburb of Hendon in memory of their grandparents Reb Shaul Elisha and Mrs. Malka Baum obm, the Torah was greeted by Mariupol shluchim Rabbi and Mrs. Mendel Cohen, who have waited years for a Sefer Torah for their shul.
By Divine Providence, the day of the celebration also marks the anniversary of the freedom of the city from under the Nazis ym”s (16,000 of the city’s Jews were shot dead in a mass grave) and a hachnosas Sefer Torah on this day marks the ultimate victory of the remaining Jews.
Led by a live music band, many of the local Jews took part in the procession along the city’s roads, which was covered by many of the local media, while the Shliach took the opportunity to also publicize the upcoming holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Shluchim from nearby cities of Donetzk and Maikavke also attended.
The procession ended with the traditional Hakafos at the recently renovated Shul, followed by a grand meal at the local convention center.
Rabbi Pinchas Vishedzki, head shliach of Donetzk, addresed the crowd about the important days ahead and wished everyone well for the upcoming new year. Rabbi Mendy Cohen blew the shofar and spoke proudly how every large city in the ukraine now has a shul and school, where a new generation of Jewish children are growing up, proving that Judaism is never lost.
Rabbi Eliyohu Kramer, shliach in Maikavke, spoke about the importance of chodesh elul, and the MC Rabbi Aharon Kaganovski ended the event with a blessing for a happy new year.
Beautiful Beis Hamikdosh design on the sefer Torah!
Mendel and Yael Yashar koach for your constant tzedoko and gemilus chasodim der zechus zolztu baishtain , sholly
Go Mendy and Yael, u guys do amazing work!!
Mendy that is so nice to see, but where are you in the pictures?
cum bak to england!!!!! xx
i cahn not get over table. I bet the shliah`s wife cooked everything singlehanded! Amazing. In zchus of your great work moshiah should come even before Yom Kippur.
from Beer Sheva
Mazel Tov Mazel Tov, from your Crown Heights home
Keep up the good work. Hashem should bless you with more simchas !!