Submission #21725 by Temple Israel Men'S Club - Norfolk, VA (1121)
I have read the 2021 Torch Awards Program Guidelines.
Geniza Book Burial
Community Outreach
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The Men's Club of Temple Israel of Norfolk, Virginia took on the task bury several thousand old prayers books, tallit's, and religious old documents that had been in the temple for yeas. The United Jewish federation of Tidewater donated an 8 grave plot to allow us to do this and involve the Sunday school as part of a learning project.
We met at the temple and loaded all of these items into three vans. When we got to the cemetery, they were still digging the grave. People in attendance helped us unload the books and documents for burial. After all the books were buried, we said special prayers. since these were books, Kaddish and Crea and meal of consolation was not done. Our Rabbi spoke to all of us about the importance of burying these items and not destroying them This was a huge leaning experience since this had not been done before at Temple Israel.
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Original Program
Gold