All Because of One Letter Inspiring personal accounts of Torah scribing.

Member of Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA The gates of heaven opened for me as I fulfilled God’s three commandments – married under the chuppah, Bat Mitzvah and wrote in Torah. Your prayer is answered. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Member of Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA This was a wonderful afternoon to spend with our four generations learning and writing in our Czech Torah. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Member of Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA Thank you so much for this once in a lifetime opportunity. It feels amazing to be able to do the mitzvah of writing in the Torah. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Kevin Glaser - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA In memory of my grandparents, Fred & Frances Glaser who survived the Holocaust and to my family and others who lost their lives. Today’s experience is for them. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Jorge, Sheri Cadence & Baby L Garcia - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA This was a wonderful afternoon to spend with our four generations learning and writing in our Czech Torah. Doing this as an entire family will be a wonderful memory to recall for years to come. What a great opportunity and experience ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dan Lader - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA Thank you for offering this wonderful opportunity to experience a very unique mitzvah. Doing this with my son a year before his Bar Mitzvah made the moment even that much more special. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Paula Pitluk - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA The experience gave me a strong feeling of being part of the community of our Jewish people. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Shelly Wellins - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA This was so special to me, writing a letter in tour Czech Torah, because this Torah was the Torah I held during a Friday night service after my conversion ceremony. I’ve always felt this was “my Torah”! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Jason Wenneberg - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA It was nice to slow down and be a part of something with such history & meaning. Grateful for the opportunity. Enjoyed the experience & the moments. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Rita Zipnick - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA This morning, Monday, March 5, 2018m was very interesting & moving experience for me. The wonderful women who I play Canasta with on Monday afternoon decided to write a letter in the Czech Torah together before we all went to play. Scott Singer was our docent and was just wonderful as Scott explained and led us thru the process, the whole experience become so magical. And to be with our close friends & sharing this together made it more so the scribe was patient, kind and understanding as well as so informed. We all left with a feeling of joy & Shalom. May God bless all who had the foresight to bring this amazing gift our Temple and for all who shared this time together. With thanks and love, ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Aleta Bryant - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA What a blessing to be offered the chance to fulfill the 613 th mitzvoth and to be able to renew the life of our cherished Holocaust Torah scroll. It felt like such an honor to be able to participated in linking the past, to the present, to the future- and to physically take part in ensuring the survival and endurance of not only the Torah Scroll, but of the Jewish people. Our history is truly a history of linked letters, linked lives and linked illumination of our legacy-the Torah. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Ron Charles - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA My family had a wonderful experience writing in the Torah. Rabbi Salazar is very friendly, The Charles Family - Ron, Rebecca, Sarah Ava, Fred, Gil, Edna. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Shirley Cohen - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA I had a wonderful experience writing in the old Torah! I found out that name is after Miriam’s middle name. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Will Fritz - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA L’dor V’dor – I did it as a child with my family & to be able to do it with my sons is a life experience that words will not be able to encompass within the confines of this space. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Wendy Nevitt - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA My son William and I loved the opportunity to participate in this great honor. Thank you to all who made it possible. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Bonnie & Sydney Robinson - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA Thank you for the great organization and activities that made this an especially meaningful and educational moment. I value this connection to our history and the people and love of the past and the promise of our future! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Norm Rosen - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA Wonderful, amazing opportunities like this, writing a letter of the Torah, are rare and special!! Thanks for making this opportunity!! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Michael Rubin - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA The Torah writing experience was deeply meaningful-the first time I wrote in a Torah scroll. Right now I feel like I made a significant step towards reconnecting with my Jewish heritage- similar to a recent trip to Israel & visit to the Kotel, when I was inspired for the first time to put on tefillin. Thank you for facilitating This meaningful step. I should add that our letter, Chet, forms an edifice like a Mishkan or Temple, linking this writing of this special letter to the construction of the Mishkan/Temple- something we must do day after day.” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Denise Stephens - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA I felt so empowered to write a letter in the Torah. I thought about how someday my grandchildren would read from Torah and may be reading the letter “I” wrote. We would have such a powerful connection. Somehow my life as woman here at temple will be remembered. Definitely L’dor V’dor! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Beth & Fred Waterman - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA This was a wonderful experience. I did it about 12 years ago and couldn’t wait to do it again. Rabbi Salazar’s explanations were great. My grandson, David Levy even wrote his own “feedback”! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Brad Wenneberg - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA Fun, wasn’t rushed-Everyone was in a high spirits - Good experience! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Rita Zipnick - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA The scribe was so peaceful and made this experience so joyful. The committee did an exceptional job & everything moved smoothly. Thank you! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Member of Temple Sinai Sarasota, FL The Rabbi gave such a lovely explanation and he was so patient with the children. A wonderful experience! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Eric Barash It was extra meaningful for me because I found out that the bet is the first letter in the alphabet of the Torah. We started the conversation out with it being my birthday and my last name of Barash. Bet, also for Baruch (Blessed). In ending, I did this in memory of my beloved mother and father. I thank you, and Rabbi Salazar for this opportunity. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Marla Sofer - Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Foster City CA It was a meaningful and positive experience for our family. Thank you for taking time to speak with us and offer learning about our letter, its significance, and relevance to our family. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Adi Magid - Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Foster City CA This was such an emotional, moving and unique experience! It truly was a very special moment and I felt blessed to have had the opportunity to share it with my kids. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Harrison Krat - Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Foster City CA It was truly unique and remarkable to have my entire family participate in the writing of a letter in the Torah. My previous knowledge of Soferim and their process led me to believe it was reserved for well-trained and experienced individuals only. This is a memory my older daughter will have for a lifetime. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Leah Baars - Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Foster City CA Significant and fun. Excellent Sofer who connected my letter in a very interesting way to life and how to proceed. I also was moved by helping to write the final letter of the first word of the Torah! It doesn’t get any better than this! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Karen Rosenfeld - Congregation Brothers of Israel, Newtown, PA It was very informative. The Sofer was patient, knowledgeable, warm and made each family/member fulfilling the mitzvah special. It was a great event!

All Because of One Letter Inspiring personal accounts of Torah scribing.

Member of Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA The gates of heaven opened for me as I fulfilled God’s three commandments – married under the chuppah, Bat Mitzvah and wrote in Torah. Your prayer is answered. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Member of Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA This was a wonderful afternoon to spend with our four generations learning and writing in our Czech Torah. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Member of Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA Thank you so much for this once in a lifetime opportunity. It feels amazing to be able to do the mitzvah of writing in the Torah. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Kevin Glaser - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA In memory of my grandparents, Fred & Frances Glaser who survived the Holocaust and to my family and others who lost their lives. Today’s experience is for them. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Jorge, Sheri Cadence & Baby L Garcia - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA This was a wonderful afternoon to spend with our four generations learning and writing in our Czech Torah. Doing this as an entire family will be a wonderful memory to recall for years to come. What a great opportunity and experience ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dan Lader - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA Thank you for offering this wonderful opportunity to experience a very unique mitzvah. Doing this with my son a year before his Bar Mitzvah made the moment even that much more special. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Paula Pitluk - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA The experience gave me a strong feeling of being part of the community of our Jewish people. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Shelly Wellins - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA This was so special to me, writing a letter in tour Czech Torah, because this Torah was the Torah I held during a Friday night service after my conversion ceremony. I’ve always felt this was “my Torah”! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Jason Wenneberg - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA It was nice to slow down and be a part of something with such history & meaning. Grateful for the opportunity. Enjoyed the experience & the moments. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Rita Zipnick - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA This morning, Monday, March 5, 2018m was very interesting & moving experience for me. The wonderful women who I play Canasta with on Monday afternoon decided to write a letter in the Czech Torah together before we all went to play. Scott Singer was our docent and was just wonderful as Scott explained and led us thru the process, the whole experience become so magical. And to be with our close friends & sharing this together made it more so the scribe was patient, kind and understanding as well as so informed. We all left with a feeling of joy & Shalom. May God bless all who had the foresight to bring this amazing gift our Temple and for all who shared this time together. With thanks and love, ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Aleta Bryant - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA What a blessing to be offered the chance to fulfill the 613 th mitzvoth and to be able to renew the life of our cherished Holocaust Torah scroll. It felt like such an honor to be able to participated in linking the past, to the present, to the future-and to physically take part in ensuring the survival and endurance of not only the Torah Scroll, but of the Jewish people. Our history is truly a history of linked letters, linked lives and linked illumination of our legacy-the Torah. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Ron Charles - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA My family had a wonderful experience writing in the Torah. Rabbi Salazar is very friendly, The Charles Family - Ron, Rebecca, Sarah Ava, Fred, Gil, Edna. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Shirley Cohen - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA I had a wonderful experience writing in the old Torah! I found out that name is after Miriam’s middle name. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Will Fritz - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA L’dor V’dor – I did it as a child with my family & to be able to do it with my sons is a life experience that words will not be able to encompass within the confines of this space. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Wendy Nevitt - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA My son William and I loved the opportunity to participate in this great honor. Thank you to all who made it possible. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Bonnie & Sydney Robinson - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA Thank you for the great organization and activities that made this an especially meaningful and educational moment. I value this connection to our history and the people and love of the past and the promise of our future! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Norm Rosen - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA Wonderful, amazing opportunities like this, writing a letter of the Torah, are rare and special!! Thanks for making this opportunity!! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Michael Rubin - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA The Torah writing experience was deeply meaningful-the first time I wrote in a Torah scroll. Right now I feel like I made a significant step towards reconnecting with my Jewish heritage-similar to a recent trip to Israel & visit to the Kotel, when I was inspired for the first time to put on tefillin. Thank you for facilitating This meaningful step. I should add that our letter, Chet, forms an edifice like a Mishkan or Temple, linking this writing of this special letter to the construction of the Mishkan/Temple-something we must do day after day.” ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Denise Stephens - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA I felt so empowered to write a letter in the Torah. I thought about how someday my grandchildren would read from Torah and may be reading the letter “I” wrote. We would have such a powerful connection. Somehow my life as woman here at temple will be remembered. Definitely L’dor V’dor! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Beth & Fred Waterman - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA This was a wonderful experience. I did it about 12 years ago and couldn’t wait to do it again. Rabbi Salazar’s explanations were great. My grandson, David Levy even wrote his own “feedback”! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Brad Wenneberg - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA Fun, wasn’t rushed-Everyone was in a high spirits - Good experience! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Rita Zipnick - Temple Beth Sholom, Santa Ana, CA The scribe was so peaceful and made this experience so joyful. The committee did an exceptional job & everything moved smoothly. Thank you! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Member of Temple Sinai Sarasota, FL The Rabbi gave such a lovely explanation and he was so patient with the children. A wonderful experience! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Eric Barash It was extra meaningful for me because I found out that the bet is the first letter in the alphabet of the Torah. We started the conversation out with it being my birthday and my last name of Barash. Bet, also for Baruch (Blessed). In ending, I did this in memory of my beloved mother and father. I thank you, and Rabbi Salazar for this opportunity. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Marla Sofer - Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Foster City CA It was a meaningful and positive experience for our family. Thank you for taking time to speak with us and offer learning about our letter, its significance, and relevance to our family. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Adi Magid - Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Foster City CA This was such an emotional, moving and unique experience! It truly was a very special moment and I felt blessed to have had the opportunity to share it with my kids. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Harrison Krat - Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Foster City CA It was truly unique and remarkable to have my entire family participate in the writing of a letter in the Torah. My previous knowledge of Soferim and their process led me to believe it was reserved for well-trained and experienced individuals only. This is a memory my older daughter will have for a lifetime. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Leah Baars - Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Foster City CA Significant and fun. Excellent Sofer who connected my letter in a very interesting way to life and how to proceed. I also was moved by helping to write the final letter of the first word of the Torah! It doesn’t get any better than this! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Karen Rosenfeld - Congregation Brothers of Israel, Newtown, PA It was very informative. The Sofer was patient, knowledgeable, warm and made each family/member fulfilling the mitzvah special. It was a great event!