Photo By Sgt. Devin Klecan | WARSAW, Poland - U.S. Air Force Capt. Levy Pekar, left, from Beitar, Israel, Chaplain...... read more read more
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WARSAW, Poland – U.S. service members and prominent members of the Jewish community throughout Europe gathered for a Torah scroll dedication for ritual use by the Ukrainian Army at the historic Nozyk Synagogue, in Warsaw, Poland, Nov. 29.
The Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich, Military Rabbinate of Ukraine Hillel Cohen, Federal Military Rabbi in Germany Zsolt Balla, Rabbi of Warsaw and Dean of Kollel Torah Mitzion Yitzhak Rapopart, and U.S. Air Force Chaplain Capt. Levy Pekar joined in the presence of the Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Wasyl Zwarycz, the Secretary of the State in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland Wojciech Kolarski, U.S. military representatives and Ukrainian refugees for a writing and completion ceremony of the Torah Scroll that will be given to the Ukrainian troops.
The inauguration of the Torah scroll included speeches, ritual writing of the final letters, prayers to mark the dedication, and celebratory song and dance to, in this case where the scroll will be transported to another country, symbolically escort the scroll to its new home.
Cohen, a Rabbi providing religious services for Jewish Ukrainian Soldiers on the frontline, acts independently to provide religious and material support to Soldiers. In July of 2022, he was officially appointed the Chief Rabbi of the Ukrainian armed forces. With his effort, and the contacts established in Israel, he has been able to provide Jewish Soldiers with helmets, vests, mobile tefillin carriers, and now, a Torah scroll.
“There are over 1,500 Jewish Soldiers in the Ukrainian Army,” said Cohen. “We never had a chaplain, or any Jewish chaplaincy in the Ukrainian Army before now. Now it’s starting, and they’re trying to pass new legislation to make sure that it will happen.”
The Torah Scroll, which is handwritten, was donated by a Jewish family in Israel after Cohen placed a request of support.
Pekar, assigned to the 86th Airlift Wing based out of Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and a native of Beitar, Israel, was one of the Rabbis honored with the completion of the Torah and writing of the last letters.
“The reason we fill out the final letter at the ceremony is to be part of the very last commandment in the Torah, which is to write a Torah scroll,” said Pekar. “The Torah dedication ceremony goes back to the times the times of King David and has always been of great importance to the Jewish people. Being able to represent the United States at such an event with this degree of diplomatic and religious significance is deeply meaningful, and I feel honored to be able to serve my country in this way.”
“This [ceremony] … was done as a sign of friendship and support by the U.S., Ukrainian, and Polish governments. It is particularly memorable as it was performed in a unique synagogue that is the sole surviving Jewish place of worship from one of the worst times in Jewish history,” Pekar added. “This show of friendship is significant and illustrates the Ukrainian and Polish commitments to the values of religious freedom and the protection of the religious minorities.”
The importance of the scroll to the Jewish community, and the Jewish Soldiers on the frontline, will prove significant to the morale of the Soldiers.
“The scroll is a very important thing, to have a tool on your side, the tool of ethical teachings and constant reminders,” said Balla. “Just because others are acting towards you without humanity, doesn’t mean you should lose your values. According to Jewish law, it says that if your country is invaded, even a woman standing within her wedding will go out to defend the country. You have to keep your moral values always intact and this is something that the Torah Scroll reminds us constantly.”
At the end of the ceremony, the Torah Scroll was covered in the blue and yellow of Ukraine’s colors to follow Cohen back to Ukraine as he hand delivers it for prayer and use on the frontline.
| Date Taken: | 12.05.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2022 13:49 |
| Story ID: | 434482 |
| Location: | WARSZAWA, PL |
| Web Views: | 304 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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