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On Sunday the 28th of October, the Hertfordshire community of Elstree & Borehamwood experienced their first ever Hachnasat Sefer Torah (induction of a new Torah Scroll).

The final letters were written at the home of Rabbi Garson, our Rav. All the community who helped support the funding of the Torah participated. Dayan Y Lichtenstein of the Federation of Synagogues, Dayan Lopian of Edgware & a number of other local Rabbis, including Rabbi Brawer of Borehamwood & Elstree United Synagogue, Rabbi Salasnik of Bushey United Synagogue & Rabbi Melul of Edgware, also joined in the writing of the final letters.

Mr. Benjamin Pearl of the Huntingdon Foundation, which has developed the Jewish state school projects for 25 years & Mr. Alan Finlay, president of the Federation of Synagogues, also attended.

Once completed the Torah was accompanied by some 300 people to the Ohr Yisrael Federation Synagogue.  This was an amazing sight to behold and a first in the history of the Elstree community. Live music, singing, dancing and fire torches brought the procession to life.

The entire community joined together in the evening for a gala dinner. During Rabbi Garson’s address he made the following comment.  “Alf Shulz, who has been a resident in Borehamwood for 55 years, was emotionally moved this morning.  His family had to change their name to hide their Jewish identity, and today in Elstree, Jews walked proudly with their Sefer Torah – creating a real Kiddush Hashem, not afraid to express their faith!”

Hachnasat Sefer Torah Celebrations Gallery