New Sefer Torah - Magen David Adom Blood Bank Synagogue
Last week, a Torah dedication ceremony was held at the synagogue in the Magen David Adom (MDA) Blood Bank building in Ramla.
The festive ceremony was attended by the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Ramla, Rabbi Yechiel Abuchatzeira, Deputy Mayor of Ramla Avraham Dzhurayev, Chairman of the Ramla Religious Council Maor Ashash, Torah scribe Rabbi Elad Cohen, members of the Broder family (the donors of the Torah scroll), MDA Director General Eli Bin, MDA Deputy Director General of Blood Services Prof. Eilat Shinar, MDA CFO Alon Fridman, as well as senior staff, employees, and volunteers of MDA.
The ceremony was led by Michael Sitrit, the security officer for MDA's Blood Services.
During the ceremony for the dedication of the new Torah scroll, donated by the Broder family in memory of Moshe Ben Zechariah Menachem Mendel and Yenta Golda Bat Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak, through the American Friends of MDA, the final letters of the scroll were written. A festive procession with singing and dancing took place around the MDA Blood Bank building, with participation from employees, volunteers, guests, and other dignitaries.
A representative of the Broder family, a grandson of Moshe and Goldi Broder, said, “The Torah and the Land of Israel were always central to their lives. As the representative of their family for 5 generations in the Land of Israel, we are thrilled to complete the Torah scroll and bring it into the Magen David Adom synagogue, an organization dedicated every day to the sacred work of saving lives."
Rabbi Yonatan Shpitzer, director of the MDA Chabad House, offered blessings: “This week’s Torah portion speaks of Abraham’s call to pursue charity and justice. Magen David Adom embodies charity and justice. Charity as they are the first responders, aiding both in Israel and abroad, sending missions to help wherever needed. And the Torah we are dedicating today represents this justice. Thank you to the donors who fulfill Abraham's words. May this Torah bring blessings to the entire nation of Israel and great victories.”
MDA Deputy Director General of Blood Services, Prof. Eilat Shinar: "This moment of dedicating a Torah scroll to a synagogue that so many people use, especially in this difficult year when we all need a place of comfort and a space to connect with God, is deeply meaningful. I bless you from the bottom of my heart, and may this synagogue and Torah scroll only be used for joyous occasions.”
MDA Director General Eli Bin: "The final letter writing and dedication of the Torah, generously donated by the Broder family for the synagogue in the MDA Blood Services building, is very moving. Strengthening the connection between body and spirit will support those in our organization who save lives every day. God willing, we will soon dedicate another large and distinguished synagogue at the MDA complex, with many Torah scrolls."
