This year we solemnly noted - Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 15-16. As we remember the martyrs and heroes, join us as we pay tribute to these special people. In the merit of all the righteous survivors, and in the merit of all the holy souls that were taken from us, I want to mention that we will use the Holocaust Torah, a treasured gift from Sam and Trudy Adwar. We are so honored to be entrusted with this Torah here, where our center continues to ignite the flame of Yiddishkeit and has children flourishing with knowledge of their Yiddish heritage.
In 1940 the Torah was buried in the ground in Warsaw, Poland. After the Second World War it was resurrected and brought to the United States by Mr. Barney Holms. He donated it to the Central Islip Jewish center where it was held until 1970. When Temple Beth Am opened in Brentwood, Long Island ,this Torah was passed on to them.
In 1978 the two temples merged and the Torah was back in the hands of Mr. Holms who was the president at that time. In late 2004 Temple Beth Am closed because of lack of membership. The Torah was given to Sam and Trudy Adwar by one of the remaining members who was a friend of theirs.
“Seeing the growth and continuity of Chabad Naples, specifically the tremendous amount of Children who attend Chabad Naples activities, we felt it was the best and most suitable place for this historic Torah,” said Trudy Adwar, the Torah donor at that time.
The Torah was in need of serious repair and was escorted to New York in 2009.
We dedicated the renewed Torah thanks to Sam Savage & Ellen Goldman Savage & the Federman family at our grand opening, and how special it was to see the children who honored it by participating in the ceremony.
May we see the fulfillment of the Prophet's words that we invoke three times a day as the very last word of EACH prayer service:
"Do not fear sudden terror nor the Shoah of the wicked when it comes; contrive a scheme, but it will be foiled; conspire a plot but it will not materialize, for G-d is with us!".
We look forward to seeing you here this Shabbat to pay tribute to these special souls.