Kneseth Israel to rededicate Torah scrolls

As part of its celebration of Hanukkah, Congregation Kneseth Israel, 220 Division St. in Elgin, will be rededicating one of its Torah scrolls for sacred use from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, Dec. 9.

"Congregation Kneseth Israel is fortunate in that we have many Torah scrolls. Each scroll contains the Five Books of Moses and is hand lettered by a scribe on animal skin parchment. We read from the Torah each Saturday morning," said Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein. "During the Sabbath of Hanukkah, we actually use three scrolls."

Last year, as part of a joint program with the local Lutheran churches and St. Mary's Catholic Church on the Saint John's Bible, the congregation brought in Sofer (scribe) Neil Yerman to teach about Hebrew calligraphy.

As part of that weekend, he evaluated the scrolls to see which needed repairing. Each scroll has a unique story to tell. Some of them are quite ancient; some needed repairing.

This scroll, called the Montifiore Scroll, is the 23rd of 24 scrolls that Sir Moses Montifiore commissioned. Some of the letters were beginning to flake off and needed to be touched up.

"This process has taken about a year. It is so exciting to do this at Hanukkah, which actually means 'rededication'. Just like the Maccabees rededicated the sacred space of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, we at CKI are rededicating this sacred scroll."

Sofer Yerman says that after a series of successful letter restoration procedures at the Little Torah Hospital, the scroll is very much looking forward to returning to her congregational family.

For information, call (847) 741-5656, or visit www.ckielgin.org or www.facebook.com/ckielgin/.