By COLlive reporter
When a new Sefer Torah is donated, it is typically a celebration that is shared across the community. A natural element is notifying where it will be given to and used.
In the case of the new Torah completed at Chabad of Savyon in the affluent town in central Israel, the recipients of the scroll participated in the ceremony but could not be named or identified.
In fact, photos of the event shared with COLlive.com had the faces of key people in the event blurred to no recognition.
That is because the Torah was donated to Unit 217, frequently called Duvdevan, a counter-terrorism (“mista’aravim”) unit in the Commando Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
These special forces are known for their undercover operations in urban areas, during which its operators often wear civilian clothing to disguise themselves among the local Arab populace.
They perform many high-risk and complicated operations, including targeted killings of terrorists and a range of other undercover operations in Arab regions, many of which are classified. Because of that, images of them are officially censored.
But they didn’t seem the spirit of the celebration. The final letters were completed with excitement, and the crowd proceeded to dance away during Hakafos. They them sat for a Seudas Mitzvah, thanking the donors for the kind contribution.
Rabbi Shmuel Bistritzky, the local Shliach and Rav of the Religious Council of Savyon, spoke about the unity of the Jewish people during the final month of the Hakhel year.
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