70
years ago, Jewish communities throughout Russia were forced
to hide their Torahs, and at last to give them up altogether.
In the summer of '04, on Project Kesher's "Voyage on the
Volga," we brought six Torahs to the place from which Torah
had been exiled. Project Kesher had located them in the U.S.
and had had them restored. Some of the Torahs had originated
in Eastern Europe.
Six Project Kesher leaders in the CIS took
the Torahs home to communities where the practice of Judaism
had been forbidden for 70 years. In most of these communities,
there was not one Torah in 2004. Today, thousands of Jews are
learning to read Torah, receiving Jewish names and engaging
in ongoing Jewish worship. In Ulyanovsk, the local synagogue
was returned after the mayor was inspired by the Torah Return
Project. (Photo
by Judy Sirota Rosenthal)
> For
more information on the communities that received Torahs
Project Kesher is looking for Torah scrolls to bring with us
when we meet in Yalta in May, 2007. Do you have access to one?
Better yet, would you like to bring one with you to Yalta? Contact:
Participants in Torah study represent all branches of Judaism
and a whole spectrum of organizational affiliations. Exposing
participants to a variety of religious viewpoints and observances
is a highly unusual and innovative approach to Jewish study
in the region.
Through Torah study, educators and participants forge relationships
that are critical to a unified, healthy Jewish community.
OTHER JEWISH IDENTITY BUILDING PROGRAMS:
> From text
to activism: Beit Binah
>
Mother Daughter Retreats
