It has always been a dream of Herman Lurie of Boynton Beach to be in a position to present a Torah to a synagogue.
Earlier this month, in honor of his 75th birthday, he not only realized his dream, but — along with his wife, Deborah — was able to do so with a Torah that now spans five generations of his family.
Lurie recently explained in an email his family’s ties to this specific Torah that was presented to Anshei Chesed Congregation — an Orthodox synagogue Lurie belongs to in Boynton Beach — on Sunday, May 8.
Lurie wrote: “My maternal grandfather and grandmother, Eshi and Malka Yaffe, emigrated from Novogrodok, which is now in Belarus, and settled in New Haven, Conn. They were very active in their synagogue in New Haven.
“The study group that my grandfather belonged to, along with their spouses, collaborated on the purchase of a Sefer Torah scroll for their synagogue.
“Because it included my grandmother’s name it had to have been donated prior to her passing in 1950 — making the Torah at least close to 70 years old.
“As the local sofer (Torah scribe), it was my grandfather who wrote all the names of the participating families on the top two plates of the Atzei Chaim (top of the Torah rollers) — including his name and my grandmother’s name.”
Lurie went on to explain about the role of the Westville Synagogue in New Haven in this story.
He wrote: “A new shul (synagogue) formed in the western section of New Haven called the Westville Synagogue. My parents — Louis and Rebecca Lurie — were charter members.
“Over the years, with the demographics of the Jewish population changing, the rise of Conservative Judaism, and the shifting of the population to the suburbs, many of the Orthodox shuls in New Haven began to merge in order to survive.
“Two shuls merged with Westville Synagogue, including my grandparents’ synagogue. All of the Sifrei Torah from the merged shuls were brought to Westville Synagogue, including the Torah that my grandparents’ study group had donated all those year before.”
Lurie related that over the past several years, due to environmental conditions in the building, the Torahs that were housed in the Westville Synagogue daily chapel had to be relocated to an upper-level office. And, this past October, Westville Synagogue formed a committee to decide what to do with the Sifrei Torah.
Lurie wrote: “I had made a request that my grandparents’ Torah be given to my wife Debby and I in order that we can present it to Anshei Chesed Congregation. The Westville Synagogue Board then voted unanimously to approve the giving of the Torah to us.
“This Torah has continued to play a central role with my family as my son Jeremy read from this Torah during his bar mitzvah over 30 years ago. Now we get to share it with future generations including my children and grandchildren.”
The Torah was presented on May 8 by Herman and Deborah Lurie in memory of Herman’s grandparents (Eshi and Malka Yaffe), Herman’s parents (Louis and Rebecca Lurie), and Deborah’s parents (Rabbi Joseph & Miriam Rothstein).
Also, the chuppah (canopy) used during the Torah dedication service belonged to Deborah’s late father, Rabbi Joseph Rothstein.
About the Torah dedication day, Herman Lurie wrote in another email: “I had mixed emotions. My heart was full with gratitude to HaShem (G-d) — who has allowed me to live to see my children and grandchildren witness this tremendous event in my life, but at the same time missing those to whom this Torah is dedicated.”
Rabbi Avi Billet of Anshei Chesed Congregation commented in an email: “The Luries are very special people who give so much of themselves to our synagogue. Their dedicating a Torah is indicative of who they are and of the continued growth of Anshei Chesed.”
For more information about Anshei Chesed Congregation, visit .
