Orphaned Gur Hasidim Complete and Dedicate a Torah Scroll in Ashdod

Dozens of orphans from the Gur Hasidic organization "Haben Yakar" wrote a Torah scroll by hand in memory of their deceased parents, then brought it into their orphanage in Ashdod at the end of an emotional ceremony last weekend. The scroll’s wooden rollers, the atzei chayim, were engraved with the names of all the parents who had died, giving the event its distinctive significance.

The writing process began weeks earlier, when the boys traveled to the homes of leading rabbis across the country to inscribe individual letters. The final completion ceremony took place at the home of Rabbi Shlomo Tzvi Alter, the son of the Gur rebbe, who embraced the children individually throughout the event.

Among those present were the Pitspurg Rebbe, the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe, MK Yitzhak Goldknopf, and Bnei Brak Mayor Hanoch Zeibert. From there, a public procession moved through the streets of Ashdod and drew thousands of residents.

At the orphanage, dancing resumed, and after the scroll was placed in the ark, the participants continued to a seudat mitzvah at the Gur seminar hall in the city. The celebration lasted until 4 a.m. Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, who spoke at the meal, recounted his own childhood as an orphan. Rabbi Shlomo Tzvi Alter and Rabbi Menachem Mendel Pomerantz also addressed the gathering, while leading Hasidic singers performed with an orchestra and choir.