[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 78 (Tuesday, June 14, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE LIPPMAN FAMILY AND THE DEDICATION OF A RESTORED 
                              TORAH SCROLL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 13, 2005

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Lippman family and 
their donation of a restored Torah scroll to the residents of Warsaw, 
Poland. I understand that Harley and Marie Lippman obtained the Torah 
in November 2004 to commemorate their daughter Juliet's Bat Mitzvah. On 
June 17, 2005, the Torah will be dedicated to the Jewish communities in 
Poland and will be made available for the public to enjoy.
  Mr. and Ms. Lippman tell me that their decision to restore and donate 
a Torah scroll was prompted by a story told to Ms. Lippman by a close 
friend, Rabbi Adina Lewittes. Rabbi Lewittes learned that a group of 
Israeli girls stumbled upon fragments of a Torah scroll during their 
visit to Poland in 1990. The girls determined that the fragments were 
part of a complete Torah that had been split into two segments: the 
first three books of the Torah were still intact, but the other two 
books had been used to decorate dolls depicting Hasidic men and sold at 
a local marketplace. For 14 years, the girls raised money to purchase 
the remains of the Torah and make necessary repairs. Once their work 
was complete, the girls dedicated the Torah to a synagogue in Israel 
that was attached to the school they attended.
  Inspired by the girls' efforts, the Lippmans set out to find another 
European Torah in need of both repair and a permanent home. Soon, Rabbi 
Lewittes located a unique Torah that was originally made in Strasbourg, 
Austria. Following this discovery, the Lippman family brought the Torah 
to an artisan in New York City who carefully restored the fragile 
document. I am happy to report that later this month, the Lippman 
family will return the Torah to Eastern Europe.
  ``Why Poland, and not Israel or the States?'' said Harley Lippman, 
whose maternal family hails from Poland. ``In her Torah portion, Juliet 
talked about the importance of gravesites. Poland is certainly an 
immense Jewish gravesite that we must not abandon. We are Jews of the 
Diaspora and as long as there are Jews in Europe who want to celebrate 
their Judaism, we will be there for them. When the Israel girls 
discovered a Torah scroll in Poland, the Torah was brought home to 
Israel. In Juliet's Torah portion, Abraham has to bring Sarah home to 
the land designated for her. In our story, my family is bringing this 
Torah home to the Jews of Poland--restoring it not only physically, but 
to its rightful place.''
  ``This Sefer Torah is unique, as it will be available for all Jews to 
use,'' remarked Poland's Chief Rabbi, Michael Schudrich. ``Most Sifrei 
Torah are given to a specific synagogue or community. This is being 
donated to meet the needs of locals or visitors as the need arises 
anywhere in Poland. It is a greater honor to be the caretaker of this 
special Torah.''
  Mr. Speaker, I request that my distinguished colleagues join me in 
paying tribute to the Lippman family for their generous and thoughtful 
donation. I trust that the citizens of Warsaw will enjoy this gift for 
generations to come.

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