Jewish Community of Perm Welcomes New Torah

PERM, Russia — Jews of Perm have celebrated a major happening in the life of the local community, with the welcoming of their new Torah scroll. This was presented as a gift by community members “in honor and memory of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson of righteous memory”. It has been over a century now that local Jews have not experienced such an event.

On March 9th, virtually the entire community came out to mark this occasion, in addition to dozens of visitors from elsewhere. Many of the guests are from the nearby communities of Kizel, Kungur, Krasnokamsk and other towns in the Perm Region. Others are from further away, such as Chief Rabbi of Izhevsk Mikhoel Urin .

“The completion of the Torah and carrying the new Torah scroll – this is a big celebration – not only for the Jewish community but for the entire region. Today we have the opportunity to carry out this event in full Jewish tradition,” commented Chief Rabbi of Perm Zalman Deutch. “Local authorities were also very supportive of this happening. It couldn’t have been done without our generous sponsors.”

Participants witnessed the last words of the Torah being written, a concert, film on the Torah, the reading of a letter from Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar, and speeches from Jewish leaders. The procession began at the Puppet Theater through the city center. Thanks to the cooperation of the local police, the roads were blocked off. Accompanied by a wind orchestra and dancing, the group carried the Torah scroll in its covering and crown, under the Chuppa. Finally, the Torah was brought into the Jewish Center, where dancing took place and a celebratory dinner.

Every participant received a piece of the same material used to create the covering for this Torah scroll. According to this age-old tradition, the fabric has symbolic meaning and is supposed to bring blessings and success to the home of the beholder.

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