The culmination of the visit by Israel’s Chief Rabbi Kalman Meir Bar and his wife Daphna Bar, along with the Minister of Religious Affairs Michael Moshe Malkieli, was the festive meal after the conclusion of Shabbat, known as “Melave Malka,” and the commencement of the writing of a new Torah scroll at the Jewish Community of Dnipro.
The event, which became the highlight and culmination of the visit of the distinguished Israeli guests who came to our city at the invitation of Chief Rabbi of Dnipro and the region, Shmuel Kaminzki, took place in the “Ballroom” hall of the world’s largest Jewish center, “Menorah.” The honored guests were warmly welcomed by the community’s director, Zelig Brez, and Rabbi Moishe Leib Weber. In his address to the members of the Jewish community, Chief Rabbi of Israel Kalman Meir Ber emphasized that it was very important for him to visit the Jewish community of Dnipro at the beginning of the month of Elul and to give all the Jews of the city a blessing from the Holy Land, that the coming year should be a year of peace and prosperity, and that during the month of Elul everyone could purify themselves and become closer to the Creator, while the community could rise to a new spiritual level.
“Our guests were deeply impressed both by the luxurious dairy meal prepared by the Menorah Center and by the incredible atmosphere—solemn yet familial, united and cohesive,” shared Rabbi Moishe Leib Weber. “But the main surprise for our guests was the commencement of the writing of a new Torah scroll, timed to coincide with their visit. Israel’s Chief Rabbi Kalman Meir Bar was deeply moved and thrilled.”
A new Torah Scroll will be written under the supervision of one of the leading scribes of the National Sofer Center, Menachem Mendel Margolin. The honor of writing its first letters was extended to the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Kalman Meir Ber, the Minister of Religious Affairs, Michael Moshe Malchieli, and their accompanying delegation: Rabbi Pinchas Altgoiz, Head of the Office of the Chief Rabbi and the Minister of Religious Affairs, David Amar, Assistant to the Chief Rabbi, Levi Natanael, Assistant to the Minister, Akiva Hofi, as well as esteemed members of the Jewish community who actively contributed to making this visit possible — Mr. Vyacheslav Kheifetz, Eduard Chudnovsky, and a great friend of the Jewish community, Viktor Zavorotny. Special honor was given to Rabbi Itzhak Karshenbaum, Deputy Secretary of the Beit Din, who provided brilliant translation throughout the entire visit. Following this, distinguished members of the Jewish community present at the ceremony were invited to join in writing the first lines of the Scroll.
Also present at the event was the wife of the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbanit Dafna Ber, who was accompanied by the director of the “Chaya Mushka” school, Rachel Milman. Together with the other participants, they were able to fully experience the grandeur of the celebration organized by the Jewish community of Dnipro, which has achieved remarkable success in reviving Jewish life under the leadership of Chief Rabbi of Dnipro, Shmuel Kaminezki.
“It was a very inspiring and spiritually rich event,” said Rabbi Moishe Leib Weber. “The addresses by Israel’s Chief Rabbi and the Minister of Religious Affairs held great spiritual significance for everyone and provided a very important charge of spiritual energy, which is so essential at the Rosh Chodesh of the month of Elul.”
