An anonymous American Jewish investor celebrated his eldest son’s Bar Mitzvah by contributing a Torah scroll to the Samarian outpost community of El Matan, next to Ma’aleh Shomron and Ginot Shomron. The Bar Mitzvah was celebrated Thursday morning at the Western Wall (Kotel).
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The name of the community means “G-d’s Gift” in Hebrew, and the donor, a man of Moroccan descent, said that the mitzvah of giving the holy scroll is all the recognition he needs.
Bringing the Torah to its new home in the Samarian hills. Israel News Photo: (courtesy of Shomron Liaison Office)
Shunning all publicity, the North Miami Beach resident asked his friend, Brooklyn Rabbi Nissim El-Nikaveh, to act as his spokesman. The rabbi said that the philanthropist is a strong supporter of Israel and has been very impressed by the growth of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.
The anonymous donor brought with him 40 family members and friends to El Matan, where the festive ceremony of dedicating the new Torah scroll was held Wednesday evening at the community, some 18 families strong.
“He wanted to show the group that came with him the development so they also could be inspired,” according to Rabbi El Nikaveh.
Family and friends gather to join the celebration. Israel News Photo: (courtesy of Shomron Liaison Office)
“The donor expressed his interest in investing in the growth of wine-producing farms and wineries located in the hilltop communities,” said David Ha'Ivri, liaison for the Shomron region (Samaria) who organized the visitors’ tour. He added that “The donor is also looking into sponsoring a building project for expellees of Homesh and Sa-Nur, who have been living in trailers in the ‘Neighborhood of the Banished” in Shavei Shomron since the two communities were destroyed in 2005.
One person attending the ceremony said, “To see stones is history. To see people is to understand how the stones got there,” meaning the rocks are meaningless without people.
Dancing with the Bar Mitzvah boy. Israel News Photo: (courtesy of Shomron Liaison Office)
The donor found out about the need for a Torah scroll at El Matan after contacting Gershon Mesika, chairman of the Shomron Regional Council, who attended the ceremony.
Also present were Netanya Chief Rabbi David Shlush, Danny Dayan, chairman of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria, Karnei Shomron Mayor Herzl Ben Ari and Rabbi Shlomo Katzin, head of the Midrash HaSephardi Yeshiva (Sephardic Midrash Yeshiva) in Jerusalem.