Last week, Thursday, Taanis Esther, a man calling himself Nissim arrived at the Kosel and placed a sefer Torah on a bima explaining he wants to donate it, wishing to remain anonymous. When asked to give his phone number, he gave them a cellular telephone number which was later learned to not be correct.

Sofer R’ Yisrael Gottleib inspected the sefer Torah, which he said was very old, and he found it is posul, with many errors requiring correction, adding someone had already begun the process.

Kosel Rav Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz informed Israel Police and the Vaad Stam, seeking to determine if the Torah may have been reported stolen.

Rabbi Rabinowitz ruled that even if the sefer Torah is repaired it is not on a high standard and only should be used in case of urgency. Therefore, it will not join the sifrei Torah at the Kosel and if no one comes forward to claim it or request to repair and use it, it will be retired from service so to speak.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)