NCSY Canada Sefer Torah Campaign

We are privileged to join Gerald & Sheryl Hartman in launching the Mi Dor Le Dor Sefer Torah Campaign in honour of Gerald’s parents, Leslie and Gabriella Hartman z”l. Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives in Canada after losing their families in Auschwitz, Leslie and Gabriella embodied kindness, generosity, and devotion to Jewish values, particularly within the Hungarian Jewish community. Their commitment to Jewish values and love of the land of Israel is a legacy that has been passed on to their family.

Upon Leslie Hartman’s liberation from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945, he vowed to dedicate a Sefer Torah in memory of his wife and children who were killed in Auschwitz. He fulfilled this promise by dedicating a Sefer Torah to a Toronto synagogue. Now, Gerald and Sheryl seek to follow his example by dedicating a Sefer Torah in their memory and in honour of Israel’s heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our people (2023–2025) following the tragic events of October 7, 2023.

In honour of Leslie and Gabriella Hartman and the fallen defenders of Israel, the Hartmans have sponsored the restoration of a Sefer Torah from Eastern Europe. This Torah will be used by NCSY Canada at Shabbatons and programs, offering teens and their families a unique opportunity to connect with a Sefer Torah—many for the first time. For these teens, it will be a deeply personal and spiritual link to their heritage.

At these events, teens will not only witness the Torah’s sacred beauty but also engage with it directly—learning its significance, the meaning behind its letters, and its historical and spiritual depth. They will experience firsthand the traditions that bind generations, from the Torah’s writing and care to its role in prayer. For many, this will be a rare and meaningful encounter with a symbol of Jewish continuity.

The Mi Dor Le Dor Sefer Torah Campaign will culminate this summer with a dedication in Israel, in the presence of NCSY leadership and teens from TJJ, NCSY’s premier Israel experience. As they stand beside the Torah, these teens will witness its dedication in Israel, a powerful symbol of Jewish resilience and continuity. They will see firsthand the legacy of their ancestors—both survivors and those who stood courageously to protect the Jewish people—deepening their connection to the Torah, their heritage, and the Jewish people.

Please help us honour the memory of Holocaust survivors Leslie and Gabriella Hartman and the brave fearless warriors of Israel who gave their lives for our nation by sponsoring a portion of the Torah. Whether as large as one of the five books or as small as a single letter, your contribution will help ensure the eternal light of the Jewish people. You may also choose to sponsor a special Torah reading connected to a foundational idea. No matter which option you choose, you are strengthening the Jewish future.