New Torah Welcomed to Cambodia

After more than a year of reading from a Torah that was borrowed from New York, it was time for Chabad of Cambodia to have their own Torah.

With the help of Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky of Chabad headquarters and Rabbi Yehoshua Rosenfeld of Chabad of Colombia, a $25,000 donation was received for the Torah from Mr. Jonathan Guberek, in memory of his grandparents Baruch and Gitel. The Torah scroll was written especially for this purpose in the holy land of Israel.

The five star Sofitel hotel was chosen to host the special event for Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012. A ten-man musical band was trained exclusively for the event. Guests arrived from all over: Mr. Guberek from Bogota, Colombia; Rabbi Butman’s mother, Mrs. Dvorah Butman; Rabbi Butman’s uncle, Rabbi Yehuda Butman, director of Chabad in Ramat Hasharon, Israel; Levi Moscowitz, Mashie Butman’s brother from Los Angeles, CA; and directors of the Jewish communities in Bangkok, Thailand; Koh Samui, Thailand; Seoul, South Korea and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Jews came from all over country, including from Batambang, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Ratanakiri. As a special souvenir, a miniature Torah made in Cambodia was given out to all participants of this monumental event.