Friday, July 18, 2025
Temple Israel of Lawrence will unveil to its congregation two new embroidered Torah covers during its Shavuot celebration on Sunday.
The two-day Jewish holiday of Shavuot commemorates the act of receiving the Torah, when Moses was given the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.
Shavuot is celebrated seven weeks after Passover and marks the beginning of the summer harvest season.
To celebrate the completion of the Torah covers, the temple will host a complimentary dinner and multi-access service during the June 1 celebration.
“To honor this enduring covenant, Temple Israel, Lawrence, launched a Torah rededication project,” the temple’s rabbi, Galina Makaveyev, said. “Thanks to the generous contributions of our congregants, we successfully completed this effort last year. With this meaningful accomplishment, our sacred community is now honored to hold two Torah scrolls in excellent condition, ready to serve future generations.”
Of the two refurbished Torahs, one has a blue cover that will be used for everyday services and the other a white cover, to be used for the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
“This special cover will be placed on one of our restored scrolls during our Shavuot service on June 1 as a celebration of tradition, renewal and continuity,” Rabbi Makaveyev said.
The Torah covers were dedicated in honor of Makaveyev’s 20-year anniversary with the synagogue, in 2022. Before becoming a rabbi on July 1 of last year, she served as the temple’s cantor.
“This was a beautiful gesture given in honor of my 20th year of service to the Temple Israel community,” Makaveyev said. “Contributing to restore and care for our Torahs is an act of tzedakah — charity —, a meaningful way to honor our tradition and ensure the continuity of our living covenant with Torah for our children and future generations.”
The Torah cover reads, “in honor of Cantor Galina Makaveyev with love and gratitude 2002-2022.”
The inside of the cover features the embroidered names of 29 donors who contributed to the project’s funding, and includes single members, couples and families.
“Thanks to your generosity, we are proud to mark the inclusion of donor names within this beautiful cover, a meaningful milestone in our community’s journey,” Temple Israel of Lawrence wrote in a statement.
The Torahs were restored by a sofer — a Jewish scribe who writes religious works, particularly the Torah, using traditional Hebrew calligraphy on parchment or vellum.
Edward Gottlieb, the temple’s president, said he believes that the restored Torahs and new embroidered Torah covers represent the restoration of the temple’s commitment to its belief and faith.
“Many people feel that Temple Israel of reformed Judaism is shrinking in importance in the Five Towns and by restoring our Torahs, is a metaphor to restoring committing to our congregational values of reformed Judaism,” Gottlieb said. “We’re here to stay, and we expect these Torahs to get worn out again with frequent use.”
Gottlieb said, as temple president, he feels “honored” to be part of this special unveiling.
“I have the honor of unveiling and carrying the torch forward from a few years ago when it was first thought of and bringing it to fruition next week,” Gottlieb said. “I get to carry the torch, and I carry it forward for the next president and the continuing congregation.”
One of Gottlieb’s goals has been to “leave the congregation and facility better than we received it.”
“I’m very honored to be the president during this unveiling of the new restored Torah, but I take very little credit on it,” he said.
Makaveyev expressed that the new covers and restored Torahs are the temple’s “legacy, honor, pride and future.”
“It’s a very beautiful and emotional thing, it’s close to our hearts and it’s important to us and our congregants,” Makaveyev said. “This cover and restoration of the two scrolls are a part of a healing process and our transition from the devastation during the pandemic. Now we’re moving to better days with hope and the things that are important to Jewish people.”
Lee Gerber, longtime temple member and treasurer, is grateful to be part of such a special event and the community.
“Coming to the temple and going to the sanctuary is such a blessing and having the opportunity to so something for the community and temple while being part of touching the Torah and restored covers is so beautiful,” Gerber said.
