The Torah Restoration Project
Vassar Temple has five Torah scrolls currently in use, including the congregation's original “Prague Torah,” which is believed to have been brought to America by one of the five families that founded our congregation in 1848.
Throughout Jewish history the Torah has been both a practical manual and a guide for the soul. Caring for the physical scroll generally referred to by the term “Torah” is vital to the continuation of our proud heritage. Vassar Temple's Eternal Torah project offers a way to fulfill the last of the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah, which requires every Jew to write a Torah scroll or to become a partner in its creation. This sacred tradition will be realized by temple members and others who share with a sofer (Torah scribe) in the writing of a letter as Vassar’s scrolls undergo much-needed restoration.
Through this project, our congregation will not only repair the physical Torah but also increase the sense of its centrality and spirituality for all who come in contact with this sacred core of our ancient tradition.