Posted on 08/01/2009 2:44:42 AM PDT by Fred Nerks
Arab-Stolen Torahs Returned to Jerusalem Synagogue
Six Torah scrolls stolen from a Jerusalem neighborhood were recovered by police near an Arab village, and three others were saved last week from a fire in Afula.
Six Torah scrolls and a host of other religious items were stolen from the Ohr HaChaim synagogue in Pisgat Ze’ev, a northern Jerusalem neighborhood, several months ago. Police detectives embarked on an intensive mission to find them – and their efforts were crowned with success this week.
Together with the Torah scrolls, also stolen were shofars (rams’ horns used on Rosh HaShanah and the days preceding it), silver goblets, and other items.
Intensive police effort resulted in the discovery that the thieves were Arabs from the nearby village of Hizme. The sacred – and expensive – items were found this week in the vicinity of the northern-Jerusalem Hizme checkpoint, through which thousands of cars travel every day.
The recovered Torah scrolls and other items were handed over to the sextons of the synagogue in a moving ceremony in the office of the Deputy Police Commander of the Jerusalem District, Niso Shacham. Present were Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, the rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, as well as Jerusalem District Police Rabbi Eliyahu Mughrabi, and many policemen who took part in the efforts to recover the stolen Torah scrolls.
Rabbi Rabinovitch addressed the participants, noting the “redemption of the spirit” involved in the mission, as well as the great merit of those who had a role in it. “During these special days when we mourn the destruction of the Temples and await the Redemption,” he said, “we pray that the redemption of these Torah scrolls, the eternity of the Jewish People, will bring in its wake the complete national redemption as well.”
(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.