Dwindling South African Jewish community of Messina
Donates its Torah Scroll to the Sheba Rehabilitation Hospital

The last remaining Jewish family in the small South African community of Messina this week donated the community Torah scroll to the synagogue of the Rehabilitation Hospital at the Sheba Medical Center.

Jack and Deana Klaff of Messina, along with former Messina community members, relatives, friends, leaders of the South African Zionist Federation, and Sheba doctors and patients, were on hand for the dedication ceremony.

Jack Klaff of Messina, South Africa, carries his community Torah scroll into the synagogue at the Sheba Rehabilitation Hospital

"Never in my life did I expect to arrive at such a day, and feel this fulfilled," said an emotional Mr. Klaff after dancing the Torah scroll into the Sheba synagogue ark. "I pray that the Torah scroll will help in the spiritual rehabilitation of the brave, young Israeli soldiers and others who are treated in this magnificent hospital."

Sheba deputy director Dr. Itzhak Zaidise thanked the Klaffs and all those who were pivotal in bringing the Torah scroll to Sheba, including: Dr. Michael Heim, deputy director of the Sheba Orthopedic Rehabilitation department, Rabbi Dorron Kline, Director of Project Development at Telfed - South African Zionist Federation in Israel, Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, the Country Communities Rabbi of the South African Jewish Board of deputies, and Moshe Isaacson, chairman of Telfed.