By COLlive reporter
Photos: Gabriel Rutenberg
Members of the Jewish community in Reykjavik joyously welcomed Iceland’s very first Torah in an event that was called historic.
Locals and guests of all ages took place in the writing of the final letters, the procession in the streets accompanied by music and the festive dinner.
The new Torah was donated by the Adina Krausz of Zurich, who sponsored the Torah in honor of her husband, Uri Krausz‘s 50th birthday. They were joined at the celebration by Switzerland’s Head Shliach Rabbi Mendel Rosenfeld.
“People were wowed by what was going on,” the Shliach Rabbi Avraham Feldman told COLlive.com. “One woman told us, ‘I thought that I would be embarrassed by this ceremony, but I am so proud.'”
What added to the historic component of the event was that the final letters were written last week in the US Embassy of Iceland.
In his remarks, Ambassador Jeffrey Ross Gunter conveyed the United States’ unwavering commitment to religious freedom around the world.
He said that means defending the right of all people to live their lives according to their conscience and to worship freely, emphasizing that this is one of President Donald Trump’s top priorities.
“I am honored to have Rabbi Feldman and leaders of Jewish communities around the world here tonight as we celebrate the first Sefer Torah permanently placed in Iceland,” Ambassador Gunter said. “This is historic and congratulations to Rabbi Feldman as he grows the Jewish community of Iceland contributing to the values that we as all Americans cherish.”
The ceremony was led by Rabbi and Mushky Feldman who were joined by their parents Rabbi Dovid and Rivi Feldman, and Rabbi Alexander and Leah Namdar, Shluchim of the Chabad Jewish Center of Sweden.
