An inspiring event was held in Dnipro, Ukraine, marking the completion of the restoration of an ancient Sefer Torah belonging to the Jewish community of Kremenchuk.

After extensive professional work at the National Sofer Center in Dnipro, the restored Sefer Torah was officially presented to a delegation from Kremenchuk, headed by Chief Rabbi Shlomo Salamon.

The ceremony took place in the office conference hall of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezky, Chief Rabbi of Dnipro and the region, located on the 18th floor of the Menorah Center, the world’s largest Jewish center. Members of the Dnipro Jewish community joined the Kremenchuk delegation for the event, which was followed by a festive meal in a warm and joyful atmosphere.

The restoration was made possible by Yosef David Belyaev, a respected member of the Dnipro Jewish community, who sponsored the entire restoration and donated a new mantle for the Sefer Torah. A new Torah crown was presented by Rabbi Levi Karelenstein.

“This Sefer Torah is especially meaningful for our community because it stood at the very beginning of the modern history of Jewish life in Kremenchuk,” Rabbi Salamon said.

“Nearly twenty-eight years ago, just two weeks before I arrived in Kremenchuk, I was informed about this Sefer Torah in a truly remarkable way, and it was entrusted to me,” he said. “I arrived in our community together with this Sefer Torah, and throughout all these years it accompanied the growth and life of our community. Its restoration therefore holds special spiritual and emotional significance for us.”