In light of the success of the Torah Day held every two
years in France for French Jewry and the success of a
similar event held last year in Jerusalem, a special daylong
event will also be held this year for French speakers living
in Israel. The events were organized at the initiative of
HaRav Yosef Sitruk, the chief rabbi of France.
The Yom HaTorah attracts tens of thousands of French Jewish
residents: religious and non-religious alike. Various stands
set up by religious organizations offer information at the
event. In light of its success in France, it was decided to
hold a similar event in Jerusalem last year.
Rabbi Yaakov Sitruk, son of France's chief rabbi and head of
the Elef LiDorot organization as well as head of a
kollel for French-speaking avreichim in
Jerusalem's Shaarei Chessed neighborhood, organized the
large event. Held in Binyanei Ha'Uma in Jerusalem, it was
attended by thousands of French-speakers living in Israel.
Since it was so successful, a similar event will be held
this year on the 17th of Elul.
HaRav Yaakov Sitruk believes that the situation in Israel
calls for a central Torah event for all local French
speakers. "It's a pity that the French-speaking communities
in Israel lack a permanent connection with Torah centers.
Most of this sector is either religious or chareidi. However
unlike in France, where the majority of the Jewish community
occasionally attends synagogue and religious events, in
Israel one who is not religious has no connection to
religious institutions," he said.
Many organizations will participate in Yom HaTorah in
Israel, which will be attended by Rav Yosef Sitruk. This
year's theme is aliyah. Stalls of organizations
offering communal services will be on display, manned by
people ready to answer questions of new immigrants.
Among the stalls will be those presenting information on
Jewish institutions, botei medrash, synagogues and
organizations. This purpose of these displays will be to
connect between these institutions and the French speaking
community in Israel. Kountrass, the chareidi journal
for French speakers, will publish a special edition in honor
of the event. The organizers hope that this event will be of
great benefit to Israel's French-speaking community.
