Four New Torah Mantlach
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The
cover for the first Torah scroll, on the far left of the ark, is
of a rich, forest green velvet, with gold-colored trim the
stitching on the front of the mantle symbolizes the two LUCHOT
HA-BERIT, the tablets of the Ten Commandments, with rays of
light shining out from the tablets. The rays of light represent
the enlightenment of righteousness and truth which the
commandments provide for each and every human being WHO will obey
them. The Hebrew inscription reads: TORAT EMET--"the Torah,
or teaching, of truth" if is certainly worthy of note that Morris
Jackler donated this mantle and years ago, it was also Morris and
his beloved wife, Rose, now of blessed memory, who donated the
remarkable facsimile of the Tablets of the Ten Commandments on
this Bimah wall. |
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The cover for the second scroll from the left, the Platt scroll,
is also made of that rich, forest green velvet, with gold colored
trim. The stitching on the front of the Mantle symbolizes the
eternal light, the Ner Tamid which is over every ark in every
synagogue to this day. The Hebrew inscription reads, Ki Ner
Mitzvah V'torah Or ~"For the Commandment is a lamp and the
Torah is a light." |
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The cover for the third Torah scroll from the left, is once again
of that rich, forest green velvet with gold-colored trim. This is
the Rosenfeld Torah, which, like the Platt Torah, was restored by
the Soferim, the scribes, Rabbi Gedalyiah Druin and his son, Rabbi
Moshe Druin. This particular mantle has been donated in loving
memory of Dr. Jacob Jupiter, who recently passed away, shortly
after his ninetieth birthday. Dr. Jupiter was a brilliant
Psychologist, and a learned Jew. I am personally aware of
situations where his caring and insightful counsel actually saved
lives. As a young man, Dr. Jupiter was forced to flee from the
German Nazis who had occupied his beloved home in Vienna, Austria.
The stitching on the front of this mantle represents the burning
bush that Moses encountered in the Wilderness. The Hebrew
inscription reads, V' Hasneh Einnenu Ocheil~"The bush was
not consumed". So, too, in spite of his great personal losses and
suffering, Dr. Jupiter's love for Humanity, and his healing
wisdom, were never consumed, throughout his long and meaningful
life. |
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The fourth Torah scroll, the very first one on the right side of
our ark, is known as our Holocaust scroll. Years ago, it was
donated on permanent loan to Temple Sinai, by the West London
synagogue in London, England. After the Second World War, a vast
number of sacred Torah scrolls, which had been hidden from the
Nazis by Jewish communities throughout Europe, were rescued and
brought to the west London Synagogue, where a Sofer, a Jewish
scribe, was hired on a full- Time basis, to repair those damaged,
yet still holy Torahs. So as to distinguish this Torah scroll from
the others in our Ark, Norma Etish selected to have this mantle
made from a beautiful burgundy velvet, with silver trim. The
etching on the front of the mantle symbolizes a burning flame. In
this context, we are required to keep the flame of memory burning.
We must never forget the Holocaust, and those millions of
innocents who perished. The Hebrew inscription reads. Zachor V'al
Tishkach "Remember and do not forget." |
Finally, it should certainly be noted that, in painstakingly selecting
these colors and symbols, Norma Etish and her committee quite
deliberately strove to match our beautiful Torah mantles with our
beautiful, colorful stained glass windows. They certainly succeeded
wonderfully well in that challenging and sacred task. |
