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Dnipro Community Donates Sefer Torah to Jewish Community in Vinnytsia

A moving ceremony was held in recent days in the Jewish community of Dnipro, widely known as the “Jewish capital of Ukraine”, to mark the completion of a new Sefer Torah that will be donated to the Jewish community of Vinnytsia • Read More, Photos

The Torah was dedicated in the merit of “Igor ben Zoya,” referring to well-known businessman and philanthropist Igor Kolomoisky. According to the dedication, the Torah was donated as a merit for his release from hardship and for long life, by his friends and members of the Dnipro Jewish community.

The ceremony, emceed by Shliach Rabbi Moshe Weber, took place at the Menorah Center, the world’s largest Jewish community center, located in the heart of Dnipro.

Addressing those in attendance were Chief Rabbi and Head Shliach of Dnipro Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky, Chief Rabbi and Shliach of Vinnytsia Rabbi Shaul Horowitz, and community leader Rabbi Yitzchak Friedman, who spoke about the significance of the donation for the Jewish community of Vinnytsia and the importance of strengthening Jewish unity and Jewish life throughout Ukraine.

Also participating were a delegation from the Vinnytsia community, friends of Kolomoisky, bochurim from the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva, and members of the yeshiva staff headed by Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Eliyahu Chafer. The Torah scroll was written by Ukraine’s National Center for STaM, directed by Rabbi Reuven Margolin, and many members of the community were honored with writing the final letters.

Following the completion of the writing, Rabbi Horowitz was honored with hagbah, while Rabbi Yitzchak Friedman dressed the Torah in its beautifully embroidered Mantel, bearing the dedication inscription, and placed the handcrafted silver crown upon it. The new Torah was then carried beneath a chuppah through the galleries of the Menorah Center before a festive procession made its way through Dnipro’s historic Jewish quarter to the city’s central Golden Rose Synagogue, where Hakafos were held.

The Torah will now be transferred to the Chabad community in Vinnytsia, nearly 600 kilometers from Dnipro. The city’s Shliach, Rabbi Shaul Horowitz, leads a thriving Jewish community of thousands and has cared for hundreds of refugee families who relocated to Vinnytsia since the outbreak of the war, providing for both their physical and spiritual needs.

“For many years we had only one Torah scroll, which made things especially difficult on Yomim Tovim, Rosh Chodesh, fast days, and other occasions,” Rabbi Horowitz said.

“When Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky learned of our situation, he arranged for this Torah to be donated. We are deeply grateful and look forward to celebrating its arrival with a large Hachnosas Sefer Torah procession and orchestra on Chai Elul.”

?This generous gift reflects the extraordinary commitment of the Dnipro Jewish community, under Rabbi Kaminetsky’s leadership, to strengthening Jewish life not only in their own city but throughout Ukraine. Especially during these challenging times, this support means so much. This Torah will further strengthen the close bond between the communities of Vinnytsia and Dnipro.”