Synagogue dedicates new Torah

Shomrei Torah Synagogue of West Hills will celebrate the dedication of a newly-commissioned Sefer Torah at 2 p.m. Sun., June 4.

All are invited to attend the new Torah dedication, which also includes Klezmer musical entertainment and a dessert reception.

The synagogue is at 7353 Valley Circle Blvd., West Hills. Call (818) 346-0811 for more information.

The Sefer Torah, the holiest object of the Jewish people, contains the first five books of the Jewish Bible. It is handwritten by a trained sofer, a scribe who uses specially prepared quills and black ink on scored parchment sheets made from kosher animals. Each scroll is checked multiple times, as there can be no mistakes.

The Torah is being dedicated in honor of Cantor Emeritus Avrum and Marion Schwartz, who have served the congregation and community for more than four decades. David and Betsy Rosner have dedicated this Torah in honor of the

couple and in memory of their parents, Rabbi Herbert and Helen Rosner and Morris and Sarah Springer.

Rabbi Menachem Youlus was commissioned to be the scribe for this Torah. He made several trips from the East Coast to the congregation to include the participation of members and friends to assist in the writing of this Torah, helping each person complete the 613th Commandment of helping to write a Torah scroll.

The dedication marks the culmination of a full year of Torah study which has encompassed the arts, theater and educational programming for all ages.

There will be a double mitzvah as the synagogue brings a new Torah to life here, while thousands of miles away, the Abayudayan Jewish community in Uganda receives a gift from Shomrei Torah of one of its existing Torahs. The Torah will be delivered to their community by synagogue members Joshua and Stuart Lorch.