Jerusalem – AnotherTorah Dedicated by Young Israel to the IDF

Jerusalem – On Tuesday 5th April 2011, Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) and the International Young Israel Movement – Israel Region (IYIM) donated a Sefer Torah to the IDF for the 190th time. This was done as part of a project which has been running for the past 12 years and was initiated by NCYI Executive Vice President Rabbi Pesach Lerner and Rabbi Yedidya Atlas of the IDF Rabbinate. The project allows for IDF soldiers in bases throughout Israel to fulfill their spiritual needs.

The NCYI -Ruby Davidman Sifrei Torah for the IDF project is named Ruby Davidman, a gentleman who made aliyah over 30 years ago and volunteered on behalf of Eretz Israel, Torat Israel and especially the soldiers of Israel (www.redeematorah.org).

This particular Sefer Torah was rededicated by communal activists Rabbi Jay and Ruby Karzen of Jerusalem and their kind friends, on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of their Aliyah to Israel.

During a very meaningful ceremony that included joyous singing and dancing in a rain downpour with the I.D.F. band playing, a festive meal,, the scroll was placed in the ark of the synagogue located in the IDF’ base outside Alon Shvut, in Gush Etzion. The donated scrolls are brought to Israel from synagogues throughout the world. They are in a worn or damaged state and donors are found to repair them and rededicate them in honor of, or in memory of loved ones or on special occasions. Upon their arrival in Israel, the scrolls are placed in different army bases according to the needs of the IDF. Recently Young Israel gained the rights to Sifrei Torah from Romania that survived the Holocaust, and just need donors in order for them to be redeemed and given to the I.D.F.
The Young Israel Movement for the past 99 years has taken the lead in ensuring that Torah true Judaism has survived in North America through its large network of Orthodox Synagogues. Its dedication to Israel has been unwavering.

“The National Council of Young Israel is proud to be the conduit for so many Young Israel and non Young Israel synagogues in the USA amd Canada to send our IDF soldiers a Torah scroll for their daily and Shabbat needs,” said Rabbi Pesach Lerner. “These soldiers put their lives on the line every day to protect their people and land, this is the very least we can do. It is indeed an honor.”

Daniel M. Meyer, Executive-Director of IYIM –Israel added: “To see the smiles on the faces of our brave chayalim said it all. The Karzens are outstanding communal leaders and once again have led by example. Everyone who participated received so much. This is a very significant contribution we can make to the I.D.F. We invite everyone to partake in this unique project.”