Torah Welcomed in German Palace

On the eve of Shavuot, the Chabad community of Karlsruhe, Germany celebrated the completion of 10 years of Shlichus of Rabbi Mordechai and Yehudit Mendelson by dedicating a new Sefer Torah to the community.

The Sefer Torah was donated by the brothers Mr. Alexander (Sasha) Granovski and Mr. David Granovski from Odesa, Frankfurt.

Rabbis from the area, Shluchim from all over Germany and surrounding countries, many family members and Jews from the city attended the ceremony which took place at the Karlsruhe Palace, a 17th century former royal palace.

Rabbis who participated were Rabbi Yisrael Diskin, Munich, the Chief Shliach of Germany, Chief Rabbi Shmuel Akiva Schlezinger, head of the Beit Din of Strasbourg France, Rabbi Menachem Halevi Klein, Rabbi of Frankfurt, Rabbi Shlomo Bistritzky, Rabbi of Hamburg, Rabbi Yehuda Reichman of Brissel, Rabbai Mendel Edelman, Head Shliach of Luxemburg, Rabbi Avraham Wolf, Head Shliach of Odessa, Rabbi Shneor Vigler, Shliach of Odessa, Rabbi Shneor Trebnik of Ulm, the Shluchim Rabbi Uri Gamson and Rabbi Gvirtz of Berlin, the Shliach Mendel Gurevitch of Ofenbach, Shliach Rabbi Zalman Gurevitch, Head Shliach of Frankfurt, Shluchim Rabbi Yosef Havlin and Rabbi Moshe Mendelson of Frankfurt and Shliach Rabbi Dov Rabinovitz of Bad Homburg.

Head Shliach Rabbi Shimon Samama of Strasburg together with his son Rabbi Mendi Samama attended along with many representatives from the Chabad community of Strasburg.

The musical entertainment was provided by Israeli singer Yishai Lapidot accompanied by Eli Sithon on the keyboard. Both musicians came from Israel and were very instrumental in bringing much happiness to this memorable event.

Rabbi Zalman Vishetzky, the Shliach from Basel, was the master of ceremony and set the atmosphere for a very special evening.

Rabbi Mordechai Mendelson spoke and thanked the donors. He was followed by Mr. Thomas Rosch Frei, a member of the country’s government, who expressed his happiness that Jewish life is growing in the country. Rabbi Yisrael Diskin then spoke about the programs provided by the Chabad house in this city. Everyone present then watched as various attendees completed the writing of the letters in the Sefer Torah. Upon completion of the writing of the Sefer Torah, all joined in the singing and dancing welcoming the Sefer Torah into their community.

The highlight of the event was the speech given by Rabbi Shmuel Akiva Schlesinger, the Head of the Beit Din of Strasburg, France, who spoke about the revival of the Jewish community in Karlsruhe, Germany. “Who would have believed 70 years ago that this would have been possible?” he asked.

Later, Dr. Yuval Lapid spoke as a representative of the friends of Chabad. The program was concluded with a speech by Rabbi Menachem Halevi Klein of Frankfurt.

Upon completion of the program, a dinner was held at the Chabad House. This was followed by dancing with the students of the Chabad Yeshiva of Frankfurt. These students also helped with the children’s program during the event.

The event was broadcast on a local television station.

“There were never so many Rabbis here,” one of the Jews from the community remarked. There is no doubt that the event will be remembered for a long time.”

“May the happiness of the dedication of the Torah endure the entire year,” said Rabbi Mendelson and thanked Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky from Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, his brother Rabbi Mendel Kotlarsky and his son Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky for supporting their work “from our first day in the city.”