New Jersey Jewish News
MetroWest Feature
Torah scroll binds shuls in Millburn and Israel
Jewelry brought together two Conservative synagogues located half a world apart. A Torah scroll will keep them together.
Last summer, Janice Colmar, educational director at Congregation B’nai Israel in Millburn, attended a jewelry-making workshop in West Orange led by Ada Yalin. As the two chatted, Colmar learned Yalin was visiting from Israel, where she belongs to Congregation Succat Shalom, a small Masorti, or Conservative, congregation.
As it happened, Colmar was in the midst of planning a congregational trip to Israel. “I was looking for a community in Israel that doesn’t often receive visitors. I wanted to meet with Israelis in an informal atmosphere,” she said. Colmar seized the opportunity and suggested adding Succat Shalom to the itinerary. Yalin put her in touch with Reuven Karni, president of the Israeli congregation, and he readily agreed.
In a message to his congregation dated erev Rosh Hashana, Karni called B’nai Israel’s request to forge a relationship with Succat Shalom “a very special surprise for the New Year” and added, “[W]e have a special project to look forward to in the coming year!”
Fast forward six months, to B’nai Israel’s post-Passover trip. Thirty-five congregants arrive at the small shul. “It was a lovely, lovely synagogue in Ramat Yishai in the Galil,” said Colmar.
Lovely, but struggling: With 40 members of North African, native Israeli, and “Anglo” descent, the congregation has no rabbi, a borrowed Torah, and mismatched prayer books and Bibles. Beyond its regular members, there are transient members who may come for a year and move on.
Beyond the major cities, Conservative Judaism is struggling to make inroads in Israel.
“When you talk about Masorti congregations in Israel, you’re usually talking about Jerusalem,” said B’nai Israel’s Rabbi Steven Bayar. “If there is not a lot of support for a Masorti congregation in Jerusalem, how much less outside Jerusalem?”
The New Jersey visitors spent a day with Succat Shalom members, some playing basketball and soccer, others, of course, making jewelry with Yalin.
“It was a special congregation. They made us feel really welcome, and we wanted to establish a relationship with them,” said Linda Sotnick, a group member who serves on the B’nai Israel board.
“We were hanging out, kibitzing,” said Colmar. “I asked what we could do to help. They said whatever funds they have will go toward purchasing a sefer Torah.” A new Torah scroll can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
B’nai Israel, it seems, had already commissioned the inscribing of a new Torah scroll with the express idea that it would enable them to donate one of the 10 scrolls they already owned. They were just looking for the right recipient.
“The one thing they really need is a Torah; the one thing we have to give is a Torah,” said Colmar. “Now this little synagogue no one knows about will be getting a Torah from us. I was thrilled beyond words. It was a very special day.”
Sotnick agreed. “When you see where the Torah is going and you have met with the people and seen the congregation — that’s a wonderful feeling.”
A B’nai Israel member traveling to Israel in late June will deliver the scroll.
In the meantime, Bayar has asked Succat Shalom to consider making a wish list.
“We’ll try to continually send them things they need,” he said.
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