THE KHARKOV TORAH SIXTEEN
MONTHS LATER
November 2005
In June 2004, the Kharkov Torah was one of six
Torahs scrolls brought to Belarus, Russia and Ukraine during
Project Kesher's Voyage on the Volga. It is my pleasure to share
the following letter from Mikhail Kapustin, a Progressive Rabbi
who now serves this community. It is addressed to Svetlana Yakimenko,
Project Kesher's Director in the Commonwealth of Independent
States.
Dear Svetlana,
By addressing you I would like to express my gratitude to the
International Jewish Women’s Organization Project Kesher
for the opportunity to use the Torah Scroll, which your organization
gave to us. For our community it is a unique opportunity to
come closer to Judaism and the Jewish moral principles that
Torah teaches us.
When I came to live in Kharkov, we began to regularly hold
Shabbat Shacharith, an integral part of which is a Torah service.
Most recently, the community celebrated the holiday of Simchat
Torah for which a Torah scroll is essential.
I would like to tell you in more detail how we celebrated Simchat
Torah. People of three generations were present in the ceremony.
The service was held by an American cantor, Ross Wohlman, who
is now studying in Jerusalem and by me. Because the community
had a Torah Scroll, all people present were able to enjoy the
joyful atmosphere of the holiday; each of them could dance with
Torah and to conduct hakafot.
It was in this service that many for the first time in their
lives saw how the Scroll is been wound, but it was not an ordinary
action, it was a special ritual filled with meaning. At first,
I read the last lines of Devarim, the last book of Torah. At
the end of reading the community gleefully chanted: "Khasak,
Khasak veNitkhasak", the words that invite us to be strong
in our serving the Lord and following the moral and ethical
norms prescript to us by Torah. Then we were able to join together
and plunge into an amazing world of the Torah Scroll. Winding
the Scroll together with cantor Ross Wohlman, I explained certain
details of composition and writing of the scroll, from time
to time giving more attention to such important aspects as the
farewell song by Moses, the 10 Commandments, Miriam’s song
and a series of other pieces. The solemn ceremony was concluded
with reading of the history of creation of the world.
Obviously, such ceremonies build our community and give an
opportunity to our members to embrace our Jewish values. In
the coming year, we will prepare people for Bar Bat Mitzvah,
which can be held only when there is a Scroll. We will continue
the program initiated by the Project Kesher women on studying
of the Torah. I am able to help each new participant to learn
how to read Hebrew and to be able to read several lines directly
from the Scroll. On behalf of Kharkov Religious Community of
Progressive Judaism I thank you for this inestimable gift and
a unique opportunity for our members to listen to and to perceive
the wisdom of Torah words and to touch this priceless Scroll.
I take the opportunity of thanking the women from the Esther
group which is a part of the International Jewish Women’s
Organization Project Kesher for their cooperation and active
participation in work of our community.
With deep respect and gratitude,
Rabbi of Communities of Progressive Judaism of Kharkov and
Ukraine
Mikhail Kapustin
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Torah Return
Project and its catalyst, the Voyage on the Volga. The impact
of this gift continues…
Karyn Gershon
