In a dramatic rescue operation, Mr. Isaac Leider, of the New York ZAKA
Rescue & Recovery Organization, waded through waist-deep toxic floodwaters
yesterday with six Torah scrolls from Congregation Beth Israel, an Orthodox
synagogue in New Orleans. A few of the Torah scrolls are believed to be more
than 250 years old.
"Out of six, only two are possibly restorable," Leider said, as he sat in an
inflatable rescue boat with the Torah scrolls he recovered. "I'm glad that
we did this, but I'm terribly saddened. It's hard to see them in this
condition." The scrolls are blackened from the toxic water and severely
damaged. (A Torah scroll, which is entirely handwritten, can cost over
$35,000.)
Mr. Leider, who spent five years with ZAKA's search-and-rescue squad in
Israel, arrived in New Orleans last week to ensure that the bodies of Jews
killed by Hurricane Katrina are treated in accordance with Jewish religious
law.
In the operation to rescue the Torah scrolls, Mr. Leider was joined by
members of the National Guard and other volunteers who were brought by ZAKA
in a private helicopter from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. The helicopter
landed a few blocks away from the synagogue, and an inflatable boat was used
to transport ZAKA volunteers to Congregation Beth Israel.
Since the Israel-based charity organization, ZAKA, is strapped for cash,
Agudath Israel of America partially funded the operation.
Upon opening the ark, Mr. Leider burst into tears as he removed the Torah
scrolls, all of them drenched. The scrolls were subsequently handed over to
representatives of the synagogue in Baton Rouge.
[בילד – נישט אפגעהיט]
Rescue & Recovery Organization, waded through waist-deep toxic floodwaters
yesterday with six Torah scrolls from Congregation Beth Israel, an Orthodox
synagogue in New Orleans. A few of the Torah scrolls are believed to be more
than 250 years old.
"Out of six, only two are possibly restorable," Leider said, as he sat in an
inflatable rescue boat with the Torah scrolls he recovered. "I'm glad that
we did this, but I'm terribly saddened. It's hard to see them in this
condition." The scrolls are blackened from the toxic water and severely
damaged. (A Torah scroll, which is entirely handwritten, can cost over
$35,000.)
Mr. Leider, who spent five years with ZAKA's search-and-rescue squad in
Israel, arrived in New Orleans last week to ensure that the bodies of Jews
killed by Hurricane Katrina are treated in accordance with Jewish religious
law.
In the operation to rescue the Torah scrolls, Mr. Leider was joined by
members of the National Guard and other volunteers who were brought by ZAKA
in a private helicopter from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. The helicopter
landed a few blocks away from the synagogue, and an inflatable boat was used
to transport ZAKA volunteers to Congregation Beth Israel.
Since the Israel-based charity organization, ZAKA, is strapped for cash,
Agudath Israel of America partially funded the operation.
Upon opening the ark, Mr. Leider burst into tears as he removed the Torah
scrolls, all of them drenched. The scrolls were subsequently handed over to
representatives of the synagogue in Baton Rouge.
[בילד – נישט אפגעהיט]