On Friday afternoon, a joyous inauguration ceremony for a new Torah scroll was held at the Marina Roshcha synagogue in Moscow. Mr. Akiva Nissan Volf Astrov commissioned the scroll in response to the atrocities of Simchat Torah and in the merit of the safe return of the hostages in captivity.

In a moving ceremony held on the eve of Shabbat ‘Lech-Lecha’, a new Torah scroll was completed and dedicated to the central Marina Roshcha Synagogue in Moscow. Donated by Mr. Akiva Nissan Volf Astrov, a longtime member and supporter of the community, the  Torah was commissioned in response to the atrocities that took place last year’s Simchat Torah festival in Israel, in memory of those who were murdered and killed and for the safe return of the hostages held in Gaza.

After the last letters were written to complete the Sefer Torah, Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Berel Lazar, praised Mr. Astrov’s devotion and commitment to Yiddishkeit. Rabbi Lazar highlighted Mr. Astrov as an exemplary figure for Jewish businessmen who live a life of Jewish values and tradition.

After the donor lifted the Torah, as customary, the community director, Rabbi Mordechai Weissberg, led the community in escorting the new Torah to the Aron HaKodesh with uplifting songs and lively dancing. As Shabbat began, the Torah was placed in the Aron HaKodesh, to be read the following day. On Shabbat morning, the donor was honored with the seventh aliyah and recited a Kaddish for the soul of his mother, whose yahrzeit was observed that week.

Photo: Alex Rashko