The Story of Yad Shalom's Torah

For a very long time I have been asked to document the story of Yad Shalom's Torah. As I began to write, the story just came pouring out and I couldn't stop it ….. everything seemed important. So, bear with me…….here goes……………

Jerry and I first joined Congregation Yad Shalom in 1998. It was difficult to leave our old synagogue after twenty-five years, but our needs had changed and we were looking for something to fulfill our religious needs. How lucky we were to find Congregation Yad Shalom! From the first moment we attended our first social event, we knew we were home. We jumped in with both feet, anxious to be part of the "family." We were invited to Board meetings and in only a matter of a few short weeks, we could see the "fresh meat" stares. Everyone at Yad Shalom was busy with his/her own jobs and we could see that everyone was welcomed on board, but expected to pitch in and help. It takes a lot of folks to run a synagogue, even a small one.

One day after services, Marcia Hall asked me if I would like to head the Fundraising Committee. Being nobody's fool, I said no, but was interested in helping in other ways and it was suggested that heading a Torah Fundraising Committee would be a great help. That was agreeable to me, so an announcement was made at services and in the newsletter and eventually a few donations started coming in. I hit up everyone I knew - even my boss' priest donated $50.00! However, the fund was very small and not growing very quickly and I knew something had to be done. Where could we go from here?

Having done some research on ordering a Torah, I had found out that buying one would run approximately $45,000. Not a reasonable idea for our congregation.

After scratching my head I thought - E-MAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I sat down and e-mailed everyone in my address book, telling them of our plight and asking that they talk it up to (and e-mail) everyone they knew, etc., etc., etc. After all, what does an e-mail hurt?

One evening, a childhood friend of mine called and told me that a 100-year-old Shul in Lynn, Massachusetts was closing due to lack of membership. She had heard that they had Torahs and maybe this was a lead. I called the phone number of Paul Weisman, told him what I had heard and asked why they were closing after so many years. I was told that Mr. Weisman was the youngest member of the Shul and he was 82 - "it's too much, already." He explained that the members were all going to different synagogues and that they had donated large amounts of money to the synagogues that were willing to take on their members. The building itself was being donated to the city as a homeless shelter (is that Tzedezah or what?). That left them with ten (that's right) TEN Torahs. Loving members had donated the Torahs over the years and they wanted to be sure they would go to "good homes."

Then he asked about Yad Shalom. I told him about our history and how we struggled each year to hold our services, train our children, etc. I explained that we met in a homeowner's association building and that everything we own was donated by one member of the congregation or another - the chale cover, the havdalah set, the candlesticks, etc. I told him that we were really like the wandering Jews, who travel from place to place with everything we own on our backs in order to hold our services. (Yes, I can really pour it on.) Next, I asked how much they were asking for the Torahs and, in TRUE JEWISH FASHION, I was told that they would never sell a Torah, that they were GIVING THEM AWAY to worthy congregations. One was already slated to go to Brandeis University, but that left nine. Mr. Weisman said the Board was meeting that week to sift through all of the requests, and that he would add our name, but ……………… "I'll call back when I know something, he said."

Well, we waited; then, one night, the call came. "Mrs. Gordon, this is Paul Weisman from Congregation Anshai Sfard in Lynn, Massachusetts. I wanted to let you know that the Board met and we decided to give Congregation Yad Shalom one of our largest Torahs." Well, as you can imagine, I started to cry and could barely speak my thanks. When I finally gained control of myself, we talked for a few moments and Mr. Weisman told me he had other calls like this to make. I thanked him again (I think he was crying by this time) and I told him I would call back the next day to find out how they wanted to handle the transfer.

I was calmer when I spoke with Mr. Weisman the next time. He said that they were having a Board meeting on Sunday a couple of weeks later and we could pick up the Torah (which was relatively new, only between 30 and 50 years old) at that time. As luck would have it, Jerry was flying to Boston to visit his mother that very weekend. After a little quick research, we found out that, if we were to fly the Torah home, it had to have its own seat and be in its own bag. Carol Goldberg kindly donated the separate seat for the Torah and all was set. Jerry met these wonderful people on Sunday, October 17, 1999, and took possession of the Torah in the name of Congregation Yad Shalom, promising that we would take care of it and use it lovingly for many years to come. When Jerry returned, he was met at the airport by Mike Goldenzweig, who took our Torah to the Sunray's house, where it has had a happy, safe, secure and insured home ever since.

You can imagine the joy with which this Torah was accepted. It even came with specially handmade "Atz Chaim" and its own old-fashioned satin and "jewel-bedecked" cover. The Halls and the Gordons decided to purchase a new cover for the Torah and, as promised, we had the name of our benevolent congregation engraved on the inside of the cover (look for it the next time you see the Torah).

The Torah was officially turned over to Yad Shalom on October 21, 2000 at our Simchat Torah service at Little Rocky Run. Unfortunately, our benefactors were unable to attend the service, but we happily held a "marriage ceremony," passing the Torah officially from Congregation Anshai Sfard to Congregation Yad Shalom and spiritually from one generation to another, making a promise that we would lovingly use our new Torah and, just as our predecessors had done, continue to learn from it and pass it on to our children. We will do that, as our congregation - small though it is - is dedicated to continuing our tradition of being together, praying together and learning together.

With much love,
Nancy Gordon