Ahavath Achim fetes new Sephardic Torah

By Deborah Moon Seldner

Congregation Ahavath Achim dedicated the 90-year-old congregation's first Sephardic Torah with a festive, historic celebration and Torah procession down Barbur Boulevard on June 25.
"It turned out to be a wonderful celebration," said Ahavath Achim Rabbi Shlomo Truzman. "We did have a good turnout despite the hot weather. ? It was a show of unity and joy," he said noting he was pleased to have rabbis from Kesser Israel, the Portland Kollel and Shaarie Torah join the procession. "We had a police escort—even the City of Portland was directly involved in this great simcha."
Portland's temperatures hit triple digits that Sunday afternoon. But, despite the heat, nearly 200 people celebrated the Torah's arrival.
"It was heartwarming. We heard people call 'mazel tov' from the apartment houses along
Barbur," said Jerry Sadis, who with his wife Bunny, provided the $12,000 challenge grant that "energized" the campaign to purchase the Torah.
Oregon's only Sephardic congregation has conducted services with three Ashkenazi Torot. Shortly after his arrival in Portland in 2003, Truzman realized the three Torot were unfit for use. He contacted a sofer (scribe) who confirmed that the Torot were no longer kosher.
The two smaller Torot were easily repaired, but the larger one needed significant repairs, which approached the cost of a new Torah. The congregation decided to try and buy a Sephardic Torah. For the last two years, Ahavath Achim has used a Torah loaned by Congregation Shaarie Torah..
"We are very grateful to Shaarie Torah for catering to our spiritual needs," said Truzman.
Truzman said that three kosher Torot is the ideal number for a congregation. He explained that several times during the year portions from three separate sections of the scroll must be read, which without three Torot requires a lot of winding through the scroll.
Last year, Ahavath Achim launched a drive to pay for the repairs of the two smaller Torot and to purchase a new Torah.
Donations trickled in until the Sadises stepped forward pledging $12,000 if the congregation could raise $24,000 from other donors by March 31, 2006.
"Then came the miracle: Just two days before Rosh Hashanah Jerry Sadis called me," said Ahavath Achim President Richard Matza in describing the importance of the Sadis grant. "Jerry and Bunny offered a challenge grant—one dollar for every two. ? This was the energy we needed at just the right time."
After appealing to the congregation at High Holiday services, Matza said the congregation pledged $16,000 of the needed $24,000.
"Of course there were the usual old Sephardic families who led the way?those families' names include Menashe, Malka, Matza, Hasson, Varon, Policar, Ferrera, Sidis and others who have deep roots here," said Matza. "But other interesting stories lie within the generosity of others during Rosh Hashana services."
Matza described many families where grandparents, parents and children each made their own pledges. For instance, three generations of the Hodes family "donated $2,000 in 20 seconds," he said.
When the campaign plateaued near the deadline, Matza said the Sephardic Cultural Center of Oregon board agreed to contribute the final $3,300 needed.
The congregation decided to buy a Sephardic Torah, which differs from an Ashkenazi Torah only in that some letters have very slight differences and it is housed in a case, rather than a mantle.
The new Torah was purchased from Sephardic sofer Alberto Attia of San Diego. The old scroll that needed repairs found a new home—a rabbi and scribe in Seattle purchased and repaired it.
"When I first saw it (the new Torah), I was more than pleased," said Jerry Sadis, who said the grant was inspired by his Sephardic heritage but was just as much a gift from his wife in their efforts to support Jewish community. "Aside from being an important historic document, it's incredibly beautiful."
Two inscriptions inside the Torah casing read: "In Loving Memory of Victor and Violet Ferrera and Albert and Mary Sidis, by Jerry and Bunny Sadis." And, "In honor of the members and friends of Ahavath Achim who generously contributed to the purchase of this Torah."
Matza said that the generosity of the Sadises and other members of the community is important to a small congregation such as Ahavath Achim, which has about 100 member units (families or individuals).
"A small synagogue is always struggling for financing to carry on," said Matza, who added that the purchase of the Torah was a significant contribution to Jewish life.