Stolen Torah Scroll Returned to Haifa Chabad House After Media Appeal

A Torah scroll, the only kosher one at the Chabad house in Haifa's German Colony, has been returned after being stolen during Shabbat. The theft, which occurred at the Ben Gurion Street Chabad center, left the community distressed and without a Torah for readings. The incident initially saw confusion, with police even denying the scroll had been stolen at one point.

A dramatic turn occurred following media coverage, particularly by 'News 04'. A Jewish individual who saw the reports encountered someone possessing the stolen Torah and recognized it. Acting with great resourcefulness, this individual purchased the Torah with their own money to ensure its return to the synagogue.

When the Chabad house offered to reimburse the individual, they refused any financial compensation. The anonymous benefactor stated that upon realizing the scroll was stolen, they felt compelled to do everything possible to return it. Rabbi Tzvi Zion Gagula, a Chabad emissary at the location, expressed profound gratitude for the scroll's recovery, attributing the "miracle" to the media's role in its identification and redemption.

Rabbi Gagula specifically thanked 'News 04', stating that the publicity enabled individuals to locate the thief who had sold the scroll, leading to its purchase and return. He emphasized that the publication was instrumental in saving the Torah scroll.