A few final letters completed Temple Emanu-El's Linda Nadell Centennial Torah on Sunday, ending a year of work on the sacred scroll.
The Torah's last letters, as well as its first, were written by Nadell's husband, Dr. Alan Levenson. The Torah is dedicated to the memory of Nadell, a past temple president who died during her tenure, in 2009.
This is the second time that Temple Emanu-El, a Reform Jewish congregation, has commissioned a Torah to be written. The first was completed in May 2001 as part of the congregation's revitalization effort. "Many people will not see an inclusion ceremony for a Torah in their lifetime," Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon said. "It's a fulfillment of everything that's really wonderful about Judaism and religion and tradition."
Torahs are completed in what's called a Siyyum, or "completion," ceremony. Honored guests and the scribe of the Torah scroll - at Temple Emanu-El, it was sofer Rabbi Shmuel Miller - fill in the final letters on the last section of parchment in Deuteronomy, the final Torah book.
Cohon said the completion of the new Torah, which cost around $38,000, is one of the most exciting things he's experienced in his 12 years in Tucson.
"It connects children, adults, everybody to the central moral values of society," he said. "It's a magnificent ancient tradition, and yet it's also something that speaks to what we need to do in our society today."
The temple now has nine Torahs, two of which are kosher. A Torah documents the first five books in the Hebrew Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The parchment is held by wooden scrolls, and readers use a pointer called a yad, rather than their hands, to touch the parchment.
Torahs are chanted weekly and are used at bar and bat mitzvahs, conversions, weddings and holidays. A Jewish temple cannot exist without a Torah.
Torah facts
Torahs are kept in an ark called the Aron Kodesh, which means "holy ark." The ark is a cabinet on the wall of the synagogue that is closest to Jerusalem. The arks are ornately decorated and are the focal point of the synagogue.
When Torahs are worn out and no longer can be used, they are buried.
Did you know
Temple Emanu-El is Arizona's oldest Jewish congregation. This year it is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Contact reporter Patty Machelor at 235-0308 or pmachelor@azstarnet.com
