Sderot Rejoices with Torah at Site of Police Station Massacre

A Sefer Torah dedicated to fallen soldiers and civilians in Eretz Yisroel was completed at the police station in Sderot that was the site of an attack last Simchas Torah. After joyfully parading through town, a seudas mitzvah was held with rabbonim, officials, police officers, and members of the bereaved families.

By Anash.org reporter

A heartfelt Siyum Sefer Torah took place last Thursday in Sderot. The final letters were written in a special ceremony held at the former police station plaza. The Torah was written thanks to the initiative of the Chabad House in Sderot and was dedicated with great emotion to the Chabad House in memory of police officers, IDF soldiers, and civilians who tragically fell during Simchas Torah and in Operation Iron Swords.

Honored guests at the event included Rabbi Moshe Havlin, head of the Chabad Yeshiva and Rov of Kiryat Gat, and member of the Chabad Rabbinical Court; Rabbi Dror Twil, Rabbi of Sderot; Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi; Health Minister Uriel Busso; Jerusalem and Tradition Minister Meir Porush; Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi; MK Alon Shuster; Rabbi Reuven Kamil, Rabbi of the Southern District Police; Sderot Police Command, senior commanders from the Southern District Police and IDF, bereaved families, city council members, and many other dignitaries.

After the final letters were completed, a joyous parade with the Torah took place through the city streets. Residents came out of their homes, deeply moved by the event. At the Chabad House plaza, joyful Hakafos were held, and the Torah was placed in the Aron Kodesh.

The evening ended with a grand seudas mitzva led by radio host Ami Maimon. The event was attended by ministers, Knesset members, rabbonim, and shluchim who shared words of Torah and brachos.

Rabbi Moshe Ze’ev Pizem, the Rebbe’s shliach to Sderot, expressed heartfelt thanks to all the supporters and everyone who helped make this important and holy event a success.

Photo credit: Mendy Kurant