Moshe Hezekiah, the baal koreh (Torah reader) at Beth Sholom Congregation in Elkins Park was recently featured in the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent for facilitating the donation of a Torah scroll to his hometown Jewish community in Abuja, Nigeria. 

According to the Exponent, Hezekiah traveled to Abuja in August to celebrate its arrival at synagogue Tikvat Israel. Last month, Tikvat Israel celebrated the community’s first bar mitzvah with the Torah.

The donated Torah came from Beth Sholom’s small collection of scrolls, and passing through customs with a sacred object was challenging in itself.

“It’s just very difficult to get one, and when we do get one, it’s a very special thing for us; it’s a special object for us,” he said. “We pay so much respect to it. We give all that we have to ensure it’s safe, it’s in a great position, taken care of properly.”

For the full story, you can click here.

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Photos courtesy of Moshe Hezekiah via Jewish Exponent