 Beth El’s Executive Director, Gil Kleiner, recently returned from a trip to Congregation Beth Shalom in Milan, Italy. This is the congregation where the late Rabbi Mark Loeb z”l was serving at the time of his death. Gil brought with him a Torah which is on permanent loan from Beth El Congregation, and is dedicated in Rabbi Loeb’s memory.
Once there Gil, who was trained to be a sopher (scribe) filled in 10 letter in the Torah to make it kosher. Beth Shalom used this opportunity as a fundraiser for their tiny congregation and allowed congregants to assist in the filling in of the letters. Beth Shalom President David Ross and his wife Carol sponsored one of the letters (right). Once the letters were complete Gil presented the feather quill and ink to a student at Beth Shalom (below, left).
 The Torah cover used was originally from Beth El’s Rubin Sanctuary, prior to its renovation. Below (from left to right) Beth El member and close friend of Rabbi Loeb, Phyllis Kline, Beth Shalom’s Cantorial Soloist Joyce Bigio Pavia, Gil Kleiner, Beth Shalom’s Interim Rabbi, Robert Gann, and David Ross.
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