New Torah Scroll Dedicated in Kyiv’s Kedem Community

On the eve of Shavuot, the Festival of the Giving of the Torah, dozens of members of the Kedem Jewish Community in Kyiv gathered for a moving Torah dedication ceremony. The event, which took place in the afternoon hours, welcomed community members alongside local rabbis, guests, and dignitaries.

The new Torah scroll was donated by Itzhak and Natalia Salonik in memory of their mother, Chaya Gila Solonik OBM, who day of passing is on the eve of the holiday. For a community that has endured significant hardship and is now undergoing a process of rebuilding, the event held deep emotional and symbolic meaning.

“In addition to the collective receiving of the Torah celebrated by the Jewish people on Shavuot,” noted Rabbi Pinchas Vishedski, the community’s leader, “the remarkable Kedem community experienced a personal Giving of the Torah and rejoicing in the Torah. While residents of Ukraine, including members of our community, continue to live amid uncertainty and anxiety, this celebration served as a source of joy, encouragement, and hope for better days filled with renewal and activity.”

The ceremony featured the writing of the final letters in the Torah scroll, followed by a festive procession through the streets of Kyiv. The community then held traditional hakafot dances in the synagogue and shared a festive meal. During the meal, Rabbi Vishedski and other speakers offered words of blessing and appreciation to the donors and to all those supporting Jewish life in Ukraine at this time, particularly highlighting the efforts of JRNU.