21 March 2016

The community at Crouch End Chavurah have welcomed a ‘new’ Torah scroll that is more than 100 years old and travels around the world.

Canadian-born sofer Avielah Barclay – the first female Torah scribe for 250 years – visited the community at Shabbat and revealed many interesting facts about the scroll, which has travelled thousands of miles.

The Torah – which is believed to have been written more than 100 years ago by a scribe from Polish tradition – is handed to communities who are unable to afford their own scroll, as a long-term loan.

The scroll has been passed on from the Danish community where Rabbi Sandra Kviat, of Crouch End Chavurah, originates.

Rabbi Sandra said: “We are honoured to be the latest recipients of this most special of scrolls. Avielah’s talk was fascinating and everyone at Crouch End Chavurah hopes she will return to continue educating us.

“I would also like to thank the NLPS Trust, without whose generosity this would not have been possible.”