Stavropol Community Welcomes First Torah in 100 Years

STAVROPOL, Russia [CHI] — In the center of the city of Stavropol, Russia, at the edge of Lenin Square, just opposite to Lenin’s statue and the provincial government building, proudly stands the Museum of Stavropol. In its basement, hidden in a closet back behind a display of “significant” older books, lies an ancient Torah scroll, confiscated from the local Jewish synagogue close to 80 years ago and now wound up and tightly stored inside a cardboard tube. Ever since the communist regime relegated Judaism to an atavism, the Torah has been conceived as a museum piece, curious to look at, but nothing you could take home.

Until now. This past Sunday, on 21 September, 2008, the Jews of Stavropol, Russia were witness to a heart-stopping repudiation of this communist notion. Three hundred local Jews, along with guests from overseas, from Moscow and from other Russian cities, assembled to watch the completion of the writing of a new Torah scroll for the Jewish community of Stavropol and to celebrate bringing the scroll to its home in the newly established synagogue of the city.

The writing of the scroll and Sunday’s celebration was arranged by Rabbi Zvi and Chayale Hershcovich; Chabad emissaries who arrived in Stavropol last November to teach local Jews about Torah and to inspire them to live a more Jewish life.

The program Rabbi and Mrs. Hershcovich provided for the day included many firsts. When local community members, the Solomonov’s donated the use and services of their restaurant for the occasion, the Rabbi was able to kosher and provide, for the first time in decades, a fully-catered kosher meal. Hakofos were danced in the synagogue while sweets were thrown by, and for, the delighted children of the community. But most significant of all firsts was the pride of the Stavropol Jews as they carried their new Torah proudly in the streets under the astonished gaze of by-standers.

The scroll was written by Rabbi Meir Nigberg and generously paid for by Moscow businessmen Eli Ginsberg and Zev Sherman. A new Aron (Torah ark) to house the Torah, was provided by the largesse of Peter Order, another Moscow businessman. Mr. Ginsberg and Mr. Order were on hand for the event, flying in from Moscow with the Sofer and Rabbi Yonatan Feldman who spoke at the event and emceed as dozens of guests and locals participated, each writing a letter in the Torah.

For the donors, Eli and Peter, it was coming around in a full circle, since they remembered Chayale (Mrs. Hershcovich) as a little girl when they were students of her father, Rabbi Rony Greenberg, himself a shaliach and their teacher when they were studying in England. Now, they are excited to participate by giving, by seeing that with their own hands they can help Jewish life take root and flower in new soil.

Rabbi and Mrs. Hershcovich have many plans for the near and the distant future. They are starting a new synagogue with weekly services, beginning right now with Rosh Hashanah prayers. They plan to establish a new kindergarten this year. They will be participating in the STARS program, for which a couple dozen young people have shown interest and half of whom have already committed themselves.

From the arrival of a new Torah scroll which brought joy and encouragement to Jews who, but for this, might have felt forgotten by the world.

One cannot help but imagine, that somewhere in the depths of the Stavropol city museum, there is an old Torah scroll, happy to have a friend in town, just around the corner and out and about meeting people.