We’ve uncovered some mysteries concerning the Torahs at Mt. Sinai and they will be fun to solve.  Here’s the background. 

In 1919, Mt. Sinai received the donation of a Torah.  We received another donated Torah in 1921.  Both were from the Marchick family, but not all is at it seems. 

Last week, a Sofer Rabbi came to Cheyenne to examine our Torahs.  A Sofer is a specialist in Torahs, and by examining the calligraphy, parchment, the wooden handles of the scroll, (which are called “Atzei Chayim”) and more, they can determine when and where a Torah was created.  Some may have been written in Poland, Russia, Germany, Israel, or other locations. 

Sam Marchick and his wife Lille were born in Ostrovo, Poland, a small town near Warsaw.  He came to America in 1904 and eventually to Cheyenne. The Marchicks opened a new and used clothing store and a pawn shop on 16th Street.  They bought the Tivoli building at 16th and Carey and lived on the upper floors while running a department store on the ground floor. 

In 1915, Sam Marchick was one of the Synagogue leaders who helped build the first Jewish Synagogue in Wyoming.  It was located where the county government building is today and there is a plaque marking the spot.  We have a scale model of the original building in our lobby.  Dorothy Feldman, who passed away at the age of 100 last year, got married in the original building.  She described it as hot and crowded, with women on the balcony level and men worshipping on the main floor. 

In June of 1919, the youngest son of the Marchicks, Jack, tragically drowned in Sloan’s Lake.  Sam Marchick donated a Torah to the Synagogue in his honor.  According to an article from a 1921 edition of the Wyoming State Tribune, the Marchicks donated a Torah in 1919 and another one in 1921. 

But here’s where it gets interesting.  The Marchicks apparently had four Torahs made.  Two were donated to Mt. Sinai.  Sofer Rabbi Menachim Siderson says the other two may have been donated to Synagogues in Denver.  When he examined our Torahs last week, he said one of them was made in the 1950’s, not long after Sam Marchick passed away, and his widow’s name was on the inscription on the handles.  So it is possible that the second Torah was donated in Sam’s honor.  That means that it is not as old as we thought, and the Torah we thought was donated to us may have gone to a Denver synagogue instead. 

So the question is, where did the other Torahs go?  Do they still exist?  Was the 1921 newspaper article incorrect? When were they donated?  Good luck, Synagogue sleuths!  We’ll let you know when we hear more. 

Steve Rubin has a heartfelt thank you to offer to our Mt. Sinai family.  Last October, one of Steve’s legs had to be amputated because of a medical issue.  He has fortunately made a complete recovery but is now dealing with life as an amputee.  He came to our summer picnic, and was very grateful for the welcome he received: 

 I want to thank and show my sincere appreciation for all the help everyone selflessly did so I could attend the July 4 picnic on Sunday. 

Georgia sent out an email to a bunch of people saying I needed a ride to the shul. Noam and Carol worked out the arrangements. Noam took me to the synagogue, and Carol drove me home. Both were extremely helpful with helping me move all my stuff my wheelchair and folding up the wheelchair and Carol and others were so kind and helping me get food at the picnic and helping me in other ways. Thank you again to Noam and Carol. Carol even helped bring stuff up to my apartment. 

I’m quite blessed to have such a supportive synagogue family. 

Many people performed mitzvahs in helping me, and I truly appreciate all the random acts of kindness that everybody helped with. 

I’m quite fond of our synagogue, family and very appreciative to be a part of the synagogue family. 

We also have an update on the replacement of the Synagogue roof.  Work is scheduled to begin August 8th and will take only a couple of weeks. 

Here’s our Yiddish Phrase of the Week: 

Der mitvokh iz lenger farn donershtik.
Your Wednesday is longer than your Thursday.

Shalom,