SPLIT SYNAGOGUE RECEIVES NEW TORAH

SPLIT, May 18 (Hina) - New scrolls of the Sepher Torah, the holy book of the Jews, were placed at the Holy Book-Case of the Jewish Community's synagogue in Split on Thursday. Present at the ceremony, which was conducted by the chief Rabbi in Croatia, Kotel Dadon, were Jews from Split and other Croatian towns, members of the consular corps in Split, municipal and county officials, and Israel's Vienna-based Ambassador to Croatia, Nathan Meron. Ambassador Meron said today's event was exceptionally important for Croatian Jews and he was proud to participate in the ceremony at the Split synagogue. Meron said he was very pleased to see the synagogue in Split, the town where many Jews enjoyed protection during fascism. Israel is very proud of the very good relations between Croatian Jews and the whole community in the area, Meron said, emphasising the importance of the Torah for the Jewish tradition and culture. The head of the Jewish community in Split, Zoran Morpurgo, said this more than a hundred years old, hand-written Torah arrived in Split thanks to Rabbi Itchak Halewa and Rabbi Kotel Dadon. Morpurgo recalled that the Split synagogue had as many as eight scrolls of the Torah before World War II, but a group of fascists broke into the synagogue in June 1942 and pillaging it and burning all Thoras. The synagogue was repaired after the war and the Jewish community from Dubrovnik gave Split Jews a new Torah. However, the new Torah was damaged and was therefore deemed improper for religious service, Morpurgo said, adding it was only now that the Split synagogue had a Torah which was appropriate for correct religious service. (hina) mm rml