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TORAH SCROLL BINDS SHULS IN MILLBURN AND ISRAEL
by Johanna Ginsberg, NJJN, June 10, 2006
Jewelry brought together two Conservative synagogues located half a world apart.
A Torah scroll will keep them together.
Last summer, Janice Colmar, educational director at Congregation
B’nai
Israel in Millburn, attended a jewelry-making workshop in West Orange led by
Ada Yalin. As the two chatted, Colmar learned Yalin was visiting from Israel,
where she belongs to Congregation Succat Shalom, a small Masorti, or Conservative,
congregation.
As it happened, Colmar was in the midst of planning a congregational trip to
Israel. “I was looking for a community in Israel that doesn’t often
receive visitors. I wanted to meet with Israelis in an informal atmosphere,” she
said. Colmar seized the opportunity and suggested adding Succat Shalom to the
itinerary. Yalin put her in touch with Reuven Karni, president of the Israeli
congregation, and he readily agreed.
In a message to his congregation dated erev Rosh Hashana, Karni called B’nai
Israel’s request to forge a relationship with Succat Shalom “a very
special surprise for the New Year” and added, “[W]e have a special
project to look forward to in the coming year!”
Fast forward six months, to B’nai Israel’s post-Passover trip.
Thirty-five congregants arrive at the small shul. “It was a lovely,
lovely synagogue in Ramat Yishai in the Galil,” said Colmar.
Lovely, but struggling: With 40 members of North African, native Israeli,
and “Anglo” descent,
the congregation has no rabbi, a borrowed Torah, and mismatched prayer books
and Bibles. Beyond its regular members, there are transient members who may
come for a year and move on.
Beyond the major cities, Conservative Judaism is struggling to make inroads
in Israel.
"When you're a transitional generation, one of your creative contributions is
to suffer a little," another woman said.
“When you talk about Masorti congregations in Israel, you’re usually
talking about Jerusalem,” said B’nai Israel’s Rabbi Steven
Bayar. “If there is not a lot of support for a Masorti congregation in
Jerusalem, how much less outside Jerusalem?”
The New Jersey visitors spent a day with Succat Shalom members, some playing
basketball and soccer, others, of course, making jewelry with Yalin.
"What these older women were saying is extremely important to me," Ramon told
the Post. "It was amazing to hear them reveal the struggles in their hearts...
“It was a special congregation. They made us feel really welcome, and
we wanted to establish a relationship with them,” said Linda Sotnick,
a group member who serves on the B’nai Israel board.
“We were hanging out, kibitzing,” said Colmar. “I asked what
we could do to help. They said whatever funds they have will go toward purchasing
a sefer Torah.” A new Torah scroll can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
B’nai Israel, it seems, had already commissioned the inscribing of a
new Torah scroll with the express idea that it would enable them to donate
one of the 10 scrolls they already owned. They were just looking for the right
recipient.
“The one thing they really need is a Torah; the one thing we have to
give is a Torah,” said Colmar. “Now this little synagogue no one
knows about will be getting a Torah from us. I was thrilled beyond words. It
was a very special day.”
Sotnick agreed. “When you see where the Torah is going and you have met
with the people and seen the congregation — that’s a wonderful
feeling.”
A B’nai Israel member traveling to Israel in late June will deliver
the scroll.
In the meantime, Bayar has asked Succat Shalom to consider making a wish
list.
“We’ll try to continually send them things they need,” he said.
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