From mosheb at sefer-torah.com Wed Jun 2 18:06:08 2004 From: mosheb at sefer-torah.com (Moshe Burt) Date: Wed Jun 2 17:30:59 2004 Subject: [Sefer-torah-network-news] The Sefer Torah Network Newsletter, Vol. 1, Number 22 Message-ID: Sefer Torah Network News Volume 1, Number 22 2 June, 2004 Shalom Friends; Welcome to the 22th edition of the Sefer Torah Network News list.. A lot has happened this past few weeks since the last edition of The Sefer Torah Network News. The recent publicity surrounding Israeli Government pronouncements and the recent defeat of the referendum which called for dismantlements and relinquishments of Gaza and certain Yishuvim inYehuda & Shomron make a compelling case for full-court pressing for expeditious donations of both Sifrei Torah and funding for restorations of Torahs for the needy, endangered locations throughout Eretz Yisrael. A Sefer Torah has been donated by a resident of Har Nof and is currently undergoing repairs prior to placement inYishuv Shi-rat HaYam in Gush Katif. During Chol HaMo'ed and again on Yom Hatsma'ot, I travelled on a Tiyul to Gaza and talked residents while there. it was through these conversations that I was able to ascertain that Yishuv Shi-rat HaYam was in need of a Sefer Torah. I spent this past Shabbos with the residents of Shi-rat HaYam. Read more on the Sefer Torah and my Shabbos in Shi-rat HaYam in a special article in this newsletter. The Sefer Torah Recyclng Network expresses it's great appreciation to Mr. Mendel Stein for his kindness in donating the Sefer Torah which will be placed in Yishuv Shi'rat HaYam. The Hachnasat Sefer Torah celebration is anticipated IY'H for Thursday evening, 1 July, 2004 at 6:30 PM. The Sefer Torah Recycling Network cordially invites everyone to attend and to watch the website for exact transportion times and information. If one views the website presently, the time given is incorrect and will be fixed shortly. Please notify me or #011-972547305497 (from overseas) or #0547-305-497 of your intention to join us so that we can estimate the numbers of people needing transportation for purposes of calculating the transportation costs. In keeping with our efforts to expedite placement in needy and endangered locations, raising the necessary funds for two restorations of Sifrei Torah for Homesh and the kehilla on Bat Ayin is presently a central focus of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. So far, the project has thankfully received donations from many sponsors but is still far short of the funds necessary to defray these restoration costs. (approximately $6,000 still needs to be raised for the restorations of both Sifrei Torah.) Toward the bottom of this newsletter, please read the brief descriptions of many more such locations throughout Israel currently either without their own Sifrei Torah or lacking sufficient number of Sifrei Torah. This same information is available by clicking on "About The Sefer Torah Recycling Network" page of the website which will provide a history of the project as well as details on the various needy organizations. Please view the website for coverage of the placement of the Sefer Torah in the Givat Nof Harim hilltop community of Yishuv Eli which took place on the 24th of March, 2004. Some of the pictures of the event have been placed on the website. A full layout of pictures will be viewable from the website soon. The Sefer Torah Recyclng Network expresses it's great appreciation to the Goldstein family for their kindness in providing a Sefer Torah for a needy location in EretzYisrael. It is vital that The Sefer Torah Recycling Network receive seed-funding as well as ongoing cash donations and a constant influx of Sifrei Torah. For this reason, we seek philanthropists, philanthropic "Angels" who recognize the need for an ongoing clearing house where Sifrei Torah can be donated or acquired, restorations completed and placements of Sifrei Torah made in needy locations throughout EretzYisrael. In this way, The Sefer Torah project will become an active, ongoing, serious organization which solicits and receives donations of Sifrei Torah, or acquires S'forim for cash for placement in needy locations throughout Israel. In the process, such donations will avail ongoing employment to needy Sofrim to repair and restore posul Sifrei Torah for placement in the growing number of needy locations in Israel which request help in acquiring a Sefer Torah. I hold that donating a Sefer Torah, or donating the funds necessary in order for The Sefer Torah Recycling Network to become an ongoing, serious organization which places Sifrei Torah in many of the hundreds of needy locations throughout EretzYisrael is to tangibly act to possess EretzYisrael as your own. There are other noteworthy developments to report in The Sefer Torah Network News list beyond the pre-Pesach Hachnasat Sefer Torah Party and the news of a Sefer Torah for Gush Katif. Please note that the Sefer Torah Recycling Network site carries directed affiliated links to both the ArtScroll.com and the CDTorah.com sites. These special directed links, both on the site and in this newsletter, enable you to help The Sefer Torah Recycling Network to raise funds while purchasing S'forim, CDs and keeping up with The Daf Yomi. CDTorah.com which markets hundreds of Torah lectures and shiurim on standard audio CDs. Now you can help The Sefer Torah Recycling Network with a click-thru from this newsletter, or from The Sefer Torah Recycling Network website to the CDTorah.com site and order audio CD's of shiurim given by notables such as Rabbi Yitzchok Berkowitz, Rabbi Akiva Tatz, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum Rabbi Herschel Schachter, Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz and more. While they last, The Sefer Torah Recycling Network is still offering a number of frameable Sefer Torah posters to all who donate $180 or more to the project. These Sefer Torah posters provide donors with incentive and yet another opportunity to impact on the heavenly scales by making needy locations Mokomot Torah and promoting Torah study. We are asking people to help us raise the necessary funds for the restoration of two Sifrei Torah slated for placement in needy locations here in Israel. A Sefer Torah poster makes a beautiful livingroom centerpiece picture. The Sefer Torah poster has a brown Mantel on either side and the 247 Amudim on a blue background. Click here to view a partial scan of the poster. Supply of these posters is limited so, please make your donation NOW!! Those wishing to subscribe after reading this edition of the newsletter may do so either by clicking on the website and placing their email address on the email address line and clicking the submit button or by following the subscription instructions at the end of this post. I ask all of you to please help publicize The Sefer Torah Recycling Network with your friends, associates, by posting a copy on the bulletin board of your Shul, etc. thereby opening up further possibility of donations of Sifrei Torah and/or funds. I am asking that subscribers pass this edition of the Sefer Torah Network News list to their friends and relatives via email with an invitation to subscribe themselves. (subscription instructions are below.) Please note that the embedded links may not show up as such on the forwarded copy. However, the URLs will show up next to the words of the links. Additional newsletter subscribers = more traffic to the site = more financial donations, that potential Philanthropic "Angel" and potential Sefer Torah donors. Hopefully, with your help and IY'H additional publicity, the exposure, subscribership and Donations of funds and Sifrei Torah will grow in the weeks and months to come as a result of both initial and ongoing efforts. Chag Kosher V'Same'ach to all and continued wishes for enjoyable reading of the Sefer Torah Network News list. Best Regards, Moshe Burt Founder and Director *************************************************************************************************** Items of Note in this Edition of theSefer Torah Network News . -The Sefer Torah for Shi-rat HaYam & my recent Shabbos there. -Shavuot & Parsha Naso -- Honoring the Ger Tzeddik and Birkat Kohanim. -Spotlight on three locations slated to receive Sifrei Torah -Inspiring Sefer Torah Stories from Around the World -Locations in need of their own Sifrei Torah -Up Close and Personal ; Kehilla Beis Tefillah, Ramat Beit Shemesh *************************************************************************************************** Please visit the ArtScroll.com Website and help support The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. A portion of all purchases from the ArtScroll.com website will support the project's mission - only when you click on this link: ArtScroll.com. Sefer Torah Network News selections for this newsletter; The Schottenstein Edition Talmud, The Aryeh Kaplan Anthology Set / 2 Volume Slipcased Set, By Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan and Rabbi Berel Wein's Pirkei Avos: Teachings for Our Times. Please note that you can now place a Standing Order of the Daf Yomi Size Schottenstein Edition of the Talmud and receive every volume of the Daf Yomi Size Schottenstein Talmud as they are Published and help support The Sefer Torah Recycling Network at the same time. **************************************************************************************************** The Sefer Torah for Shi-rat HaYam & my recent Shabbos there. By Moshe Burt Near the end of April, I received an email from Hillel Fendel of Arutz-7 stating his Dad was acquainted with a gentleman who lives in Har Nof and that this gentleman was interested in donating a Sefer Torah to a needy location. This is how I came to meet Mr. Mendel Stein, an 82 year old resident of Har Nof. Mr. Stein who made Aliyah 10 years ago and who used to live in Borough Park. Before making Aliyah, he set out to find donors of Sifrei Torah to bring over and came to Israel with 7 Sifrei Torah. Coincidently, 10 years ago I founded The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. It's a shame that we didn't know each other then. Over the past 10 years, both Mr. Stein and I have seperately seen to placing or facilitating placement of Sifrei Torah in needy locations in Israel. The Sefer Torah Recycling Network has facilitated placement of 6 S'forim to date and the Sefer Torah which Mr. Stein is donating which will be placed in Shi-rat HaYam will be my 7th. The most recent Sefer facilitated by The Sefer Torah Recycling Network was placed in Givat Nof Harim (Yishuv Eli) just before this past Pesach. At that time, a group of Ramat Beit Shemesh residents accompanied the Sefer Torah to Givat Nof Harim on a chartered bus. Mr. Stein knows nothing of the history of the Sefer Torah or it's age. My Sofer, Rabbi Moshe Sandowski estimates that the Sefer is between 40-50 years old. The Sefer is written in S'fardi Vulise K'sav. On 28 April, 2004, Mr. Stein transferred the Sefer Torah to me. On 2 May, 2004, I got a double Birthday present. The referrendum was defeated and I received word from my Sofer, Rabbi Moshe Sandowski that the repairs to the Sefer Torah had commenced. Shabbos in Shi-rat HaYam and it's History and Background On Friday, 28 May, 2004, I set out from home at 8:30 AM to spend Shabbos in Yishuv Shi-rat HaYam in Gush Katif. Via taxi, I arrived at Shimshon Junction, just outside Beit Shemesh where I connected with the #437 bus at 9:05 AM which was enroute from Jerusalem to Ashkelon. I arrived in Ashkelon at a little after 10 AM, caught the #36 bus for Gush Katif 11 AM and arrived at Neve Dekalim at a little after 12 noon. From Neve Dekalim, I received a ride for the short distance to Shi-rat HaYam. After placing my overnight bag at the home of my hosts, I went to the beach and went into the sea up to my thighs. Afterwards, I found a shady place and a couch in back of one of the caravans. There I sat and learned and relaxed until later in the afternoon. The community in Shi-rat HaYam is comprised of 15 families, mainly young newly-married couples in their mid-20's. Most of the men learn each day in the twoYeshivot located in Neve Dekalim. I found them all very warm and hospitable and I believe that this past Shabbos was very meaningful to all. During the Shabbos meals, my hosts gave me some history of the Site where Shi-rat HaYam is situated and how they came to make their homes there. The Shi-rat HaYam site was, prior to the 6 Day War, summer vacation offices for the Egyptian Army. As a result, there are a number of building shells which remain standing until today. The Yishuv would like to develop and renovate them into permanent dwellings and other infrastructure rather than living and praying in Caravanim. However, the government doesn't approve of such renovations. Young single people started coming and staying at the Shi-rat HaYam site a few years ago as a response to terrorist attack crippled the Cohen family children as well as other such attacks. I'm not sure at what point Caravanim where brought there for these young people to love. Eventually, as many of the singles become married, they settled in the Caravanim in Shi-rat HaYam. Many of the couples now have children. The community often has guests for Shabbos and a wonderful time was had by all. ***************************************************************************************************** Tehillim for Recovery from Illness Please see that tehillim is said for the following individuals; Tinok ben Nechama, a baby (who hasn't been able to have a bris yet) and who has a tumor on his liver. Moshe Shlomo ben Michal; Moshe Shlomo is 1 1/2 years old. There were complications at birth which have resulted in slowness in coordination and motor development. Aliza Channa Devorah bat Malka; Aliza is 12 years of age. I'm happy to report that she has completed her Chemo-therapy treatments for cancer in Hadassah Childrens hospital and has resumed attending school part-time. She still must be watched carefully and has weekly check-ups at Hadassah Hospital. She had complained of pain in her right shoulder. Doctors found a tumor and she was diagnosed a few months ago. Please pray hard for her refuah shleimah. This request came to me from her grandparents who live in the U.S. Menucha Mendel Yehudit Rut bat Chaya Zelda; A widow from London who became ill during a visit to EretzYisrael and who is currently recovering from her illness in London. Please pray hard for her refuah shleimah. And please Daven for Good Health for Yehonatan ben Malka (Jonathan Pollard) and for his speedy release from American incarceration and his return to his beloved homeland, Eretz Yisrael. **************************************************************************************************** Sponsorship Donation Program Lifting Neshamot through Donations of Funds/Sifrei Torah Flash: Special Incentive gift for those Sponsors donating $180 or More* Why not donate a paragraph, or a section or the reading from your Bar Mitzvah, marriage, or some other family event. Principals and Administrators of Religious Day Schools, Talmudei Torah and Yeshiva High Schools; The Sponsorship Donation Program to help restore Sifrei Torah for placement in needy locations in Israel makes an excellent Chinuch and Tzedakah project for your students and their families. Friends, please recommend it to principals and adminstrators for inclusion in their educational programs. Please send me an email stating your level of sponsorship, and what you seek to sponsor. More information is also available on our website. Making a donation, whether a financial donation made through theSponsorship Donation program, or via the donation of a Sefer Torah, can cause the elevation in Shemayim of the Neshama of the niftar loved one or close friend. Please keep this thought in mind as you consider a donation to The Sefer Torah project . Sponsorship Donors can make an Online donation via paypal. Simply copy the email address; , then click on the paypal link, and paste the copied email address onto the "Recipient's email" field. All donors participating in the Sponsorship donation program will receive an attractive, frameable commemorative certificate in recognition of their kind donation. *The Sefer Torah Recycling Network has gained access to a limited number of Sefer Torah posters. Those donating $180 or more will be sent one of these posters which is frameable. It makes a beautiful livingroom centerpiece picture. The Sefer Torah pictured has a brown Mantel on either side and the 247 Amudim on a blue background. Click here to view a partial scan of the poster. While they last, those donating $180 or more will receive a full Sefer Torah poster including all 247 Amudim. **************************************************************************************************** Check out the Updated Sefer Torah Recycling Network website and see all of the new bells, whistles and features which provide you with all necessary information about the project from lists of needy locations to Rabbinic Approbations. **************************************************************************************************** Divrei Torah Shavuot & Parsha Naso -- Honoring the Ger Tzeddik and Birkat Kohanim. By Moshe Burt With Shavuot having been on a Wednesday and Shabbat following closely on it's heels, I seek to bring a couple common threads between Chag HaShavuot and Shabbat Parsha Naso. These threads are the importance of both honoring the Ger Tzeddik and Birkat Kohanim. In Divrei Torah I develope and say over, I tend to focus on the middot of honesty and Ahavat Chinom for our fellow Jews and the impact that a lack of these middot make on our collective mindset at various levels; from personal, to business, to learning, to the levels of governing and politics. And I end off by with the wish and the Bracha that we strive to perfect these middot. And it seems to me that a paradigm of these middot is how we are taught to treat the Ger Tzeddik. We are taught to go above and beyond the norm -- to go, in the vernacular which evolved from American Pro-Football, beyond "the full nine yards" in extending kindnesses to a Ger Tzeddik. There is an old axiom that amongst Religious Jews that he who was born, raised and has lived his entire life as a Religious Jew can't fit into the shoes or know the road that the Ba'al Teshuva has traveled. Chavel Chomer, that all Jews can't know and internalize the road that the Ger Tzaddik has traveled in his evolution toward the Emmet of Judaism. In Megillat Ruth, one receives an indication that the road traveled by Ruth was more substantial than love, admiration for Na'omi and concern for her welfare. In the Artscroll Megillas Ruth, there is a short commentary on the words "V'Shem Ishto Na'ami", "for his[Elimelech's] wife's name was Na'ami, for her actions were pleasant and sweet (Midrash translation)." Surely, as a role model, she was worthy of emulation. But I have not seen, in earthly terms or understanding, any Sefer clearly enunciate the road traveled Ruth which led to her adamant desire to become a Ger'es. This desire had to be a divine spark. For nowhere do we learn how it was that Ruth and Orpah, sisters, daughters of Moabite royalty came to be joined in marraige with Machlon and Killion, the sons of the Elimelech. The Artscroll Shavuot Machsor's (page 488) introduction to Megillat Ruth says that various reasons are given for reading Sefer Ruth on Shavuot; -- The story of Ruth's becoming a Ger'es takes place from ' the beginning of the barley harvest ' through ' the end of the wheat harvest. This period includes Shavuot. -- The giving of the Torah marked the entrance of B'nai Yisrael into the Covenant with Hashem, the beginning of the Jewish nation. Megillat Ruth tells how Ruth entered that Covenant. -- Megillat Ruth is the history of the roots of Dovid HaMelech. The last verse, which traces the line of Boaz's descendants, ends with mentioning Dovid. Since Shavuot is the traditional Yahrtzeit for Dovid HaMelech (Yerushalmi Chaggigah 2:3) and his birthday, we read Ruth on Shavuot (Tevuos Shor). The Artscroll introduction to The Book of Ruth also brings the question; "Who can withdraw purity from impurity?" (Sefer Job, Perek 14, posuk 3) The comentary continues, "Avraham came from Terach, Hezekiah from Achaz,Yoshia from Omon, Mordechai from Shi'i, Yisrael from the nations, the World to come from this world. Who could do this? Who could command this? Who could decree this? No one but [Hashem} the only One on earth." (Bamidbar Rabbah Perek 19, posuk 1). The introduction continues; "The sparks of goodness are scattered throughout creation. One was with Lot and remained glimmering even in the moral filth of Sodom. To salvage that spark, Hashem sent the angel Rafael, who, after healing Avraham, went to Sodom to save Lot, bearer of the spark that would become the soul of David. It went down through the generations until the time came for it to leave the impurity of Moav and enter the Jewish nation through Ruth...." "Lot's spark travelled through his Moabite descendents for seven centuries until it reached it's ultimate destination. When the proper time came, Ruth went from the field of Moav to the field of Boaz. While popular wisdom held that no Moabite could ever enter the land of Hashem, [Boaz] the scion of Yehudah, leader of his people, unearthed the long-neglected law that a Moabitess was not forbidden to marry a Jew. One fateful night, the last one of Boaz's life, the spark of Lot and the brilliance of Yehudah were united as Ruh and Boaz were married. That night, Oved, the grandfather of David, was conceived." Another such true story of intense determination to become a Ger is recorded in the sefer, "Migrant Soul", authored by Rabbi Avi Shafran. The sefer relates the story of a Catholic descendent of two tribes of American Indians who is drawn to Judaism as a teenager and later, after marrying an assimilated Jewish woman becomes doggedly determined to become a Jew. The sefer tells of the twists and turns in his path to Yiddishkiet -- the couple first becomes connected with a Reform Synagogue. Not being spiritually fulfilled, he turns to the Conservative movement and finally, to the Religious Community. And while searching for trueYiddishkeit, his formerly assimilated wife joins him in his path to Observance, to "the real deal." Rav Pliskin, in his Sefer "Growth Through Torah" commenting on Parsha Naso, writes a piece which he entitled "Act with love and kindness towards converts." He quotes Bamidbar (Perek 5, posuk 6) "When a man or a woman commits any of the sins against man, acting treacherously toward Hashem" and he [Rav Pliskin] says as follows; "A person who comes to Torah on his own volition does so because of the beautiful and elevated ideas he hears regarding Torah principles. He made his decision on the assumption that those who follow the Torah will act toward him in accordance with all the Torah laws pertaining to interpersonal relations. If someone cheats him financially or in some other way wrongs him, he [the Ger Tzeddik] will not only suffer a monetary loss. Rather, he might also feel disillusioned with his decision to accept a Torah way of life. He has usually given up very much because of his ideals and will experience much pain from his disappointment that the people he is in contact with do not meet the Torah standards he expected of them. The importance of not harming a convert can be seen from the fact that Torah warns us about this in a number of places. From the negative we can learn the positive. The merit of acting with love and kindness toward a convert is great." ("Growth Through Torah", page 312) "The Midrash Says", comments on the same posuk regarding the punishment of the Jewish thief who steals from a Ger or from any other Jew, as follows; "When the gentile nations heard about this mitzvah, they exclaimed, How great is this G'd who formulates laws that benefit those who observe them." "The Midrash Says" continues by saying, "The Almighty...is more lenient, as it were, with sins against him personally than with a wrong committed by a man against his fellow. This applies not only to a sin committed against a native Jew but equally against a Ger Tzeddek, a non-Jew who converted Leshaim Shamayim." Rabbi Artscroll says on the posuk that, "This law regarding proselytes was especially relevant now that their status was accentuated by the organization of the Sh'vatim. Since proselytes, not belonging to any of the 12 tribes, encamped seperately, the Torah now gives the law regarding the theft of their property. This...teaches that financial treachery toward a fellow Jew is tantamount to treachery against G'd himself, for he defends the defenseless." But what does this discussion about the Ger Tzeddik have to do with Birkat Kohanim (the Priestly Blessings)? To answer this question, I return to Rav Pliskin and "Growth Through Torah" (on Parsha Naso, page 316). Rav Pliskin writes; "The blessings of Birkat Kohanim are all in the singular rather than in the plural. Rabbi Moshe leib of Sassov said that ... the greatest blessing is in togetherness. When we feel as if we are one unit, ... this itself ... is a great blessing." When feeling a sense of singularity, of unity, of brotherhood amongst Klal Yisrael, it seems more likely that we will deal honestly and have Ahavat Chinom for our fellow Jews, as we would want to be treated ourselves. And extended further; just as the Kohanim are the kli for Divine Bracha to B'nai Yisrael, so too, the B'nai Yisrael are divinely intended as the kli, the example of steadfast principle -- of how man is supposed to treat his fellow, the emulation of of G'dliness, the light unto the nations. May we strive to perfect our internal and private middot and darchim; Modesty, Humility and our other Mitzvot, Chasadim, Tzedakah, Total Honesty and having Ahavat Chinom for our fellow Jews on all levels -- personal, business, learning, etc. And may our neshamot and intellects reach fullest potential within the unity of B'nai Yisrael. If we will care enough about our brother to help him and treat him, at all levels -- b'derech, at business, at home, as we would want to be treated ourselves and if we finally recognize that the Emet of Unity and B'nai Yisrael's common national sense of responsibility in Eretz Yisrael overrides the various agendas of privilege and protexia, then Arafat and the Arabs, Dubya, Cheney, Zinni, Powell and Clinton, before them, are as nothing. If we will ALL accept Yiddishkeit each day with the enthusiasm -- as if we were all Ger'im and as if Yiddishkeit was brand new, then we'll be zocha to have our Tefillah reach Shemayim, unimpeded, ungarbled. IY'H that we'll be zocha to demand, compel Hashem to do "what he wants to do, to bring us the Moshiach and the Ge'ula Shlaima, the Ultimate Redemption, bim hay v'yameinu -- speedily, in our time", like Achshav -- IMMEDIATELY, Chik Chuk, Meiyad, Etmal!!! ******************************************************************************************* Spotlight on two locations slated to receive Sifrei Torah (with your help! ) ; Homesh, in the Shomron (Sameria) region of Eretz Yisrael amd is located amongst a group of communities including Kedumim, Elon Moreh, Shavei Shomron, Einav, etc. which are in close proximity to the Arab cities of Shechem, Kalkilya, etc. The Yishuv has many Russian olim who have become Ba'al Teshuva in addition to many Dati families who have moved there in recent years from other locations. Upon completion of the restoration of a Sefer Torah donated by a family in Baltimore, its placement in Homesh will be fulfillment of a nearly 5 year old promise to Rabbi Yehoshua Schmidt. I met Rav Schmidt, the Rav of both Yishuv Shavei Shomron and Yishuv Homesh, while living and doing Ulpan on Shavei Shomron. The second Sefer Torah, once funds are raised and the restoration work is completed, will be placed in a Kehilla of Yishuv Bat Ayin which is located in Gush Etzion. It will be the recipient of a Sefer Torah donated by a student of the School of Safrus located there. Just a few words on Bat Ayin. I visited there recently for the first time in many years. The Yishuv has grown 10-fold in the 9 years since The Sefer Torah Recycling Network placed it's first Sefer Torah there in 1995. It was more beautiful then I remember it. Hopefully, I will go there for Shabbos in the near future and will have more to write then. In order to complete the restorations of these Sifrei Torah for placement in these two locations, $6,000 remains to be raised. Please know that your sponsorship donation or purchase of a S'forim or Judaica products via clicking from the ads on The Sefer Torah Recycling Network homepage, the About The Sefer Torah Recycling Network page or the Judaica Page is an act of helping to unify Jewish neshamot of those who have touched, kissed and lained from these Sifrei Torah throughout their lives with those yet to touch, kiss and lain from them during their extended future life. By donating or through purchasing via the ads on the site, you are taking positive action to possess Eretz Yisrael. In these days where talk abounds about dismantlements, unilateral withdrawals and the like, and this talk is seen as a display of weakness discrediting our Divine, eternal legacy of possession of Eretz Yisrael, your donation insures that needy locations become Mokomot Torah and under the protection of Shemayim. Please make your donations by check or paypal -- NOW! ************************************************************************************************************ Inspiring Sefer Torah Stories from Around the World In the days after the Hachnasat Sefer Torah Party in Givat Nof Harim, I've had a number of interesting responses including from someone who told me about a gentleman in Baltimore, Md. who rescued a Sefer Torah a few years back from a location in the Ukraine. Below is a Torah story of a 60 year old Sefer Torah rescued after being buried in a Gestapo body bag in the Ukraine, approximately 40 years ago, together with bones of over 200 Jews. 24 Sept., 2001 Some things just won't stay buried "I Brought the Torah Scrolls with Me From Syria!" - The story of how a Syrian Jew smuggled Torah Scrolls into Israel. A Sefer Torah Story from "GUARDIAN OF JERUSALEM" the life and times of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld is entitled "Solving The Crime." Click on the link and arrow down to the story. "Purchasing Justice" - between rich and poor, by Rabbi Scheinerman. A lesson for all of B'nai Yisrael. Sifrei Torah in Iraq In surfing the net looking for pertinent sites related to Sifrei Torah, I stumbled upon this site, which has apparently been inactive since fall, 2002. It is called "The SCRIBE" . You can view the site and it's interesting stories by clicking on the title. More Sefer Torah Stories I feel that this inspiring story written by Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn which appears on the Jewish World Review website bears repeating. It is entitled "Healing a trampled sole". But Rabbi Krohn's story is not the only such Holacaust Sefer Torah/Shoe story. The Amcha (Israel Center for Holacaust Survivers) site features another such story, "My Shoes", by Rachel. Click on the link and arrow down to the story. ******************************************************************************************* Did you know that you can now help in five ways to assist in locating donors of Sifrei Torah and raising funds to accomplish our mission? 1/ Talk to your friends, relatives and acquaintances about The Sefer Torah Recycling Network and about the many needy communities in Eretz Yisrael who do not possess their own Sifrei Torah. Many Shuls have aging Congregations and Sifrei Torah in their Aron HaKodesh laying idle, not being lained from. Many active Shuls have excess Sifrei Torah which are not in use due to restoration work needed or because the Shul has newer Sifrei Torah. These S'forim, if in Kosher or restorable condition, are desperately needed by communities in EretzYisrael who do not have the financial resources to acquire new Sifrei Torah and would greatly appreciate the donation of a used Sefer Torah. 2/ Donors in the US, please make tax deductible donation checks out to "Congregation Ahavas Torah Tzedakah Fund", with a note on both the Memo line of the check and on the envelope "Mark Burt & Sefer Torah Recycling Network" and mail to "Congregation Ahavas Torah Tzedakah Fund", 1425 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19111. Be sure to include your address. Upon request, a tax-deductible receipt for your donation will be mailed to you. >>>NEW<<< Donors in Canada, please make your tax deductible checks out to "JBRASS" (BN#864426911RR0001) and mail to; "The Sefer Torah Recycling Network", 46 Meadowbrook Road, Apt. 6, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6B 2S6. Please mark on the envelope (and if possible attach a stick'em memo to the check) saying "Mark Burt & Sefer Torah Recycling Network." Upon receipt, a tax-deductible receipt for your donation will be mailed to you. 3/ Donors can participate in a Sponsorship Donation program. 4/ Donors can make an Online donation via paypal. Simply copy the email address; , then click on the paypal link, and paste the copied email address onto the block called "Recipient's email". 5/ The Sefer Torah Network currently has affiliations with Artscroll and Soncino publishers, CDTorah.com and Ahuva Judaica whereby subscribers to the Sefer Torah Network News list as well as surfers to the The Sefer Torah Recycling Network website can now help finance the project's mission simply by purchasing S'forim, Torah lecture CDs or Judaica from these publishers and Judaica Suppliers. All it takes is clicking on any of the above links or the links on the website. The Sefer Torah Network continues to seek affiliations with other Judaica publishers as well as with other online Judaica merchants in order to generate funds toward defraying project costs. Please give your Support, Financial Donations/ Donations of Used Sifrei Torah. Make Needy Locations throughout Israel Mokomot Torah *********************************************************************************************** Other Locations in need of their own Sifrei Torah; I want to relate to you the contents of emails which have been received describing some of the newest needy locations. Among the new locations writing of their need for a Sefer Torah are Tzur Hadassah -- only a short distance from Ramat Beit Shemesh. They lack an Ashkenaz Sefer Torah. It is a Yishuv of 2,000 people. It is popiulated mostly by Secular/Traditional, but has a small, but growing religious population. They have S'fardi, joint Ashkenazi-S'fardi and Ashkenaz Minyanim. The Ashkenaz Minyan which is in need of a Sefer Torah a mix of Olim (incl US, Australia, UK, Swiss, Belgian, France) as well as veteran Israeli, all leaning towards Dati Leumi. In Gush Katif, Sifrei Torah are needed in Yeshiva Yamit, which owns only one, as well as in Yishuv Shuirat HaYam. In Betar, the Main Beit Knesset is lacking two Sifrei Torah. There are two other Batei Knesset which need one each. Beitar's Main Beit Knesset's Sefardi Minyan, is a combination of North African, Syrian, Yerushalmi, Bavli & European S'fardim. The other two Betar Batei Knesset are Ashkenazi/Hassidi with a varied mixture of men from all over the world. In Yishuv Meitzad, the home of the Goldstein family who founded the Diaspora Yeshiva in the Old City, in Jerusalem, an AshkenazSefer Torah is needed. An "Ashkenazi" minyan of Yishuv Bar Yochai is in need of a Sefer Torah. Bar Yochai is a town of 117 families close to Meron Junction and the grave of the Rashbi. In Ramat Beit Shemesh "Aleph", Beit Knesset Kehillat Beis Tefillah which currently davens in an enclosed area in back of the building next to my building, but who recently broke ground for building a Beit Knesset, needs it's own Sefer Torah as the two S'forim in their Aron HaKodesh are both on loan. Also in Ramat Beit Shemesh "Aleph", Kehillah Ahavat B'Simcha, a Carlebach Minyan is in need of a Sefer Torah. In Jerusalem, Yeshiva Machon Meir is in need of an Ashkenaz Sefer Torah. These are just a few of the many locations all over Israel in need their own Sifrei Torah. To view more such locations, please view The Sefer Torah website. As one lover of Eretz Yisrael to another, I'm sure that you share my wish that every location in Eretz Yisrael, regardless of economic means, be Mokomot Torah (a place of Torah). And imagine the level of Kedusha when all of the neshamot who have lained from, touched and kissed a Sefer Torah in the past, in it's previous home, unite with all of the neshamot yet to lain from, touch and kiss the Sefer Torah here in EretzYisroel. At this time in history, with the advent of the latest Oslo spin-offs, "Geneva" and the mis-directed "Roadmap" both of which endanger Israel, the kedusha of Eretz Yisrael, Jewish Sovereignty and very survival, we need your help, both by way of donations of Sifrei Torah and by way of donations of funds in order to fulfill our mission of placing Sifrei Torah in needy locations throughout Israel, thus possessing Our Land, IY'H insuring our survival. We hope to raise seed funds in order to set up an Amutah or a Non-Profit Company in Israel, to employ Sofrim to restore Sifrei Torah, to locate donors of, or economically purchase Sifrei Torah via all medium. The plan is also to eventually establish a 501-C3 Non-profit organization in the US and thus establish The Sefer Torah Recycling Network an ongoing, serious project. Your Support, Financial Donations & Donations of Sifrei Torah Will Help Needy Locations throughout Israel **************************************************************************************************** Up Close and Personal: Kehilla Beis Tefillah, Ramat Beit Shemesh; A link has been added on the links page of the site for a very special Beit Knesset in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel; Kehilla Beis Tefillah. Land has been broken, preliminary retaining wall work has been completed and the Shul is moving ahead with the building of a new Beit Knesset structure to be completed sometime next year. Ramat Beit Shemesh is the fastest growing community in Israel and Kehilla Beis Tefillah, led by Rav Chaim Malinowitz, among it's most dynamic Shuls. Friends, when you make your pilot trips in the course of your Aliya planning, have your Aliya date at hand or have arrived and are searching for a wonderful community and full-service Beit Knesset (Tefillah, Kesher, an outstanding Rav, daily Night Seder and dynamic Learning Programs, Avos U'Bonim, Youth Mishmar and American warmth, caring and closeness), your first stop's gotta be Kehillat Beis Tefillah. Financial donations toward the Shul's building fund are greatly appreciated. When donating, please tell them that you read about the Shul here. *************************************************************************************************** Merchants; When you signup for PayPal, you can start accepting credit card payments instantly. As the world's number one online payment service, PayPal is the fastest way to open your doors to over 31 million members worldwide. Best of all, it's completely free to sign up! To sign up or learn more, click here. ******************************************************************************************************** Subscription Instructions You are invited to tell your friends about The Sefer Torah Recycling Network and to encourage them to subscribe online to the Sefer Torah Network News list. Subscription is accomplished simply by either viewing The Sefer Torah Recycling Network website and clicking on the subscribe button on the homepage or sending an email to: Sefer-torah-network-news-request@sefer-torah.com with subject - "subscribe". To unsubscribe, user will send an email to: Sefer-torah-network-news-request@sefer-torah.com with subject - "unsubscribe". -- Moshe Burt Founder and Director The Sefer Torah Recycling Network Rechov Nachal Dolev #34/12 Ramat Beit Shemesh 99000 Israel 02-9996496, 067-305-497 Do a Chessed for Needy communities in Eretz Yisrael. Click on; http://www.sefer-torah.com Please help with your kind donations! Eliminate annoying pop-ups with Alexa Toolbar Now you can donate on-line, Click on; https://www.paypal.com, copy & paste to the email block email address; mosheb@sefer-torah.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://server.alefhost.com/pipermail/sefer-torah-network-news_sefer-torah.com/attachments/20040603/af0579a0/attachment-0001.htm