[Sefer-torah-network-news] The Sefer Torah Network Newsletter,
Vol. 1, Number 22
Moshe Burt
mosheb at sefer-torah.com
Wed Jun 2 18:06:08 EDT 2004
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
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>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 <mosheb at sefer-torah.com> 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 <http://www.sefer-torah.com>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
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/storah.html>"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<http://www.sefer-torah.com/givatnofharim.html>
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
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/home>ArtScroll.com
and the <http://www.cdtorah.com/index.jsp?ref=32&a=0>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
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/home>S'forim,
<http://www.cdtorah.com/index.jsp?ref=32&a=0>CDs and keeping up with
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/ASIN/TAL>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
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>The Sefer Torah Recycling Network website
to the <http://www.cdtorah.com/index.jsp?ref=32&a=0>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.
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/torah1.htm>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
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>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
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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
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Please visit the
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/home>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:<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/home>
ArtScroll.com.
Sefer Torah Network News selections for this
newsletter; <http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/ASIN/TAL>
The Schottenstein Edition
Talmud,<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/ASIN/KPAH>
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/ASIN/KAHS>The
Aryeh Kaplan Anthology Set / 2 Volume Slipcased Set, By Rabbi Aryeh
Kaplan and
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/ASIN/WAVL>Rabbi
Berel Wein's Pirkei Avos: Teachings for Our Times.
Please note that you can now place a
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/ASIN/DYT>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 <http://www.sefer-torah.com>The
Sefer Torah Recycling Network at the same time.
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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.
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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.
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Sponsorship Donation Program
Lifting Neshamot through Donations of Funds/Sifrei Torah
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>Flash:
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/torah1.htm>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
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/sponsorship.htm>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 the<http://www.sefer-torah.com/sponsorship.htm>Sponsorship
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; <mosheb at sefer-torah.com>, then click on
the<https://www.paypal.com> 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.
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/torah1.htm>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.
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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<http://www.sefer-torah.com/approbations.htm> Rabbinic
Approbations.
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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!!!
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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
<http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2001/09/24/bethcols.htm>Some
things just won't stay buried
<http://www.jafi.org.il/arts/2003/oct/1.htm>"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
<http://www.innernet.org.il/archives/guardian.htm>"Solving The
Crime." Click on the link and arrow down to the story.
<http://scheinerman.net/judaism/stories/justice.html>"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<http://www.dangoor.com/scribe.html>
"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 <http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0403/sole.html>
"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,
<http://www.amcha.org/Survivors_Stories.html> "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
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/sponsorship.htm>Sponsorship Donation
program.
4/ Donors can make an Online donation via<https://www.paypal.com>
paypal. Simply copy the email address; <mosheb at sefer-torah.com>,
then click on the <https://www.paypal.com/>paypal link, and paste
the copied email address
onto the block called "Recipient's email".
5/ The Sefer Torah Network currently has affiliations with
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/home>Artscroll and
<http://www.soncino.com/search.asp?REFERER=SeferTorahNetwork>Soncino
publishers, <http://www.cdtorah.com/index.jsp?ref=32&a=0>CDTorah.com
and
<http://www.ahuva.com/store/search.asp?REFERER=SeferTorahNetwork>Ahuva
Judaica whereby subscribers to the Sefer Torah Network News list as
well as surfers to the <http://www.sefer-torah.com>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
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>site for a very special Beit Knesset in
Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel; <http://www.beistefillah.org>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
<http://www.beistefillah.org>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 <http://www.beistefillah.org>Shul's
building fund are greatly appreciated. When donating, please tell
them that you read about the Shul here.
***************************************************************************************************
<http://www.qksrv.net/click-1346029-1456053> 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,
<https://www.paypal.com/mrb/pal=ATZYBT5MUBSA2>click here.
********************************************************************************************************
Subscription Instructions
You are invited to tell your friends about The Sefer Torah Recycling
Network and to encourage them to
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/mailman/listinfo/sefer-torah-network-news_sefer-torah.com>subscribe
online to the Sefer Torah Network News list.
Subscription is accomplished simply by either viewing
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>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 at sefer-torah.com
with subject - "subscribe".
To unsubscribe, user will send an email to:
Sefer-torah-network-news-request at sefer-torah.com
with subject - "unsubscribe".
--
Moshe Burt Founder and Director
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>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
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