Back in 2019, when we began the process of restoring our Holocaust Memorial scroll, we discussed the possibility of using the ‘extra’ Torah scroll that will come out of our Ark to help support a community that could really use one of their own. A few months ago we received a request on behalf of a newly formed Reform community in Valencia, Spain who would really love to be able to celebrate Shabbat and Festivals by reading from a Torah scroll! As you may have heard, the TE Board has unanimously supported this donation! The scroll required some restoration, and we were excited to welcome Torah Scribe, Rabbi Kevin Hale, to TE at the end of April.
Now that the Torah is ready to be used again, we will honor its impact on TE history as we say our communal ‘goodbye’ by reading the 10 Commandments from it at our Erev Shavuot service on Sunday, June 1 at 7:30 pm. Shavuot is the celebration of the receiving of Torah on Mount Sinai, and we will use this opportunity to read from this scroll at TE for the final time, before it begins the journey to its new home in Valencia, Spain. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the past and look to the future than helping a Jewish community obtain a Torah. What an honor and a blessing it is for TE to be in the position to do so!
