Dozens of jubilant employees of the Israel Broadcasting Authority and other guests took part in a festive ceremony bringing, for the first time, a Torah scroll into the synagogue in their place of work.

The Scroll was donated by Judaica shop-owner Tzion Peretz of Jerusalem, who read about the lack of a Torah in the IBA in a recent issue of Arutz-7's B'Sheva weekly newspaper.

The story began when Uri Revach, an IBA television reporter who became religiously observant in recent years, spoke with B'Sheva's Hagit Rotenberg just three weeks ago. "We have a daily prayer service here [in the IBA]," Revach said, "with about 20 people, both religious and traditional, and there is even a daily Talmud class."

"Our next goal," Revach continued, "is to get a Torah scroll for our synagogue, so that we can pray the morning service as well [the Torah is read aloud during the Monday and Thursday morning service -ed.]."

Tzion Peretz read this - and acted. He phoned Revach, said he had a Torah scroll to give him, and the ceremony was scheduled for this past Tuesday.  Participants in the singing and dancing were visibly moved, and some even were seen wiping away a tear.

Asked what moved him to donate the Torah, Peretz would say only, "I just wanted to help a group of Jews that needed a Torah. Nothing political, nothing else... I told them that as long as they have prayer services there, they can know that they have a Torah from me."

The ceremony began, as is customary when a synagogue receives a new Torah, with a parade in the street, and ended with dancing inside the IBA's Nakdi Auditorium - the site usually reserved for the controversial "Politika" program. 

"This place that is usually filled with yelling, political accusations and the like, is now filled with dancing in honor of the Torah," said Revach from the site with satisfaction.

Also present for the occasion were Trade Minister Eli Yishai (Shas), MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party), Rabbi Dov Begun of Machon Meir, and top IBA officials.  IBA Director-General Moti Shklar - himself an observant Jew who lives in Ofrah - spoke of love between Jews and how the Torah can unite religious and secular Jews.

Click here for details on refurbishing Torah scrolls and providing them to communities in need of one.