\"Genuine, utter happiness.\" This is how one of the participants described yesterday\'s celebration of the introduction of a new Torah Scroll to the yeshiva in Elon Moreh. Hundreds of residents of the Shomron town, together with over 40 members of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun of Teaneck, New Jersey, took part in the joyous occasion. \"The uplifting we experienced there - Jews of New Jersey together with those of the rejuvenated Shomron - is indescribable in words,\" said Rabbi Yehuda Bohrer of Beit El, who was also on hand.
The Teaneck congregants, in Israel for a ten-day visit, also dedicated an armored bus purchased by their community for the residents of Hevron last week. Led by Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, their trip took them to several Shomron and Gush Katif communities. They also took part in the dedication of a new mikveh (ritual bath) at Elon Moreh, in memory of the town\'s Rabbi Hillel Lieberman, who was murdered on his way to save Torah scrolls from the Arab \"conquerors\" of Joseph\'s Tomb more than 15 months ago. His widow, Yael, reminisced yesterday about his love of Joseph\'s Tomb and his dedication to the practice of immersing in the mikveh. Elon Moreh\'s Rabbi Elyakim Levanon related how Rabbi Lieberman had, under the suspicious eyes of the Arabs who controlled the entrances to Joseph\'s Tomb, actually managed to construct a kosher [ritually acceptable] mikveh at the holy site.
The Teaneck congregants, in Israel for a ten-day visit, also dedicated an armored bus purchased by their community for the residents of Hevron last week. Led by Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, their trip took them to several Shomron and Gush Katif communities. They also took part in the dedication of a new mikveh (ritual bath) at Elon Moreh, in memory of the town\'s Rabbi Hillel Lieberman, who was murdered on his way to save Torah scrolls from the Arab \"conquerors\" of Joseph\'s Tomb more than 15 months ago. His widow, Yael, reminisced yesterday about his love of Joseph\'s Tomb and his dedication to the practice of immersing in the mikveh. Elon Moreh\'s Rabbi Elyakim Levanon related how Rabbi Lieberman had, under the suspicious eyes of the Arabs who controlled the entrances to Joseph\'s Tomb, actually managed to construct a kosher [ritually acceptable] mikveh at the holy site.