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MESSINA TORAH FOR ISRAELI HOSPITAL – JANUARY 2009
The once active Jewish community of Messina might be no more, but its legacy to the Jewish people lives on. Last year Rabbi Doron Kline, director of project development at TELFED (the Israel branch of the SAZF), conveyed to Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, Spiritual Leader to the SA Country Communities, an urgent request for a Sefer Torah from Tel HaShomer Hospital ’s Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Center . Rabbi Silberhaft circulated the letter to various country communities for their consideration, and received a positive response from Jack and Deanna Klaff, the last remaining Jews in Messina.
Last month, the Klaffs were in Israel to present the old Messina Hebrew Congregation’s Sefer Torah to the hospital. Amongst those in attendance at the festive “ Hachnasat Sefer Torah” ceremony were members of the Messina Jewish community living in Israel, former Pietersburg stalwarts Dennis and Charlotte Wiener and and Leon and Sara Klaff of Louis Trichard. Also present were Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, and representatives from Telfed and the Tel Hashomer Hospital .
In handing over the Torah, Jack Klaff said that it was very fitting that it was being presented just after Operation Cast Lead, in which many soldiers had been injured and were now receiving rehabilitation in this very centre. He warmly acknowledged Rabbi Silberhaft’s long association with Messina Jewry, which had commenced as early as 1981 when he had been a 14-year-old Yeshiva College pupil sent by the school to officiate at the High Holyday Services.
Marlene Woolfson, daughter of former Messinites the late Harry and Helene Flax (who was accompanied by her husband Luzik and son Alan) stressed how fitting it was that the congregation’s Sefer Torah had found a new home in Israel .
“My late father Harry Flax, who was a pillar of the Messina Jewish community, a generous and caring man and a passionate Zionist, would agree that there could be no more fitting place for our Torah than in Israel” she said. Merle Proos, daughter of the late Abe and Bucky Flax, was joined for the occasion by her husband, daughters and grandchild, all now also residing in Israel. She expressed her delight at being able to attend the function with her grandchild, which showed the commitment and continuity of four generations to Israel. |
