A synagogue at the community of Yitzhar in Samaria will welcome a new Torah scroll Sunday, dedicated to the souls of the eight students at Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva in Jerusalem who were murdered in a terror rampage in March 2008.
Unlike most Torah welcoming ceremonies, in this one the identity of the donor is not known. All that has been made public is that the donor is a businessman who resides in central Israel, who decided to contribute a Torah scroll for the ascent of the souls of the students martyred in the savage terror spree. “Ascent of the souls” refers to a continuation of good deeds done by a deceased person, which is believed to assist his soul in the Next World.
When the businessman learned that a synagogue in Yitzhar was missing a Torah scroll he decided immediately that he would be donating the scroll to that synagogue. The commissioning of a Torah scroll costs tens of thousands of shekels.
The people of Yitzhar are also unaware of the donor's identity. His confidantes have maintained secrecy in all their contacts with the synagogue, as well as with the organizers of the festive 'mitzvah meal' which will accompany the ceremony, and which the businessman is also paying for.
The anonymous donor will, however, be dancing with the revelers at the ceremony, which will begin at 4:30 PM Sunday at Yitzhar.