Dedication of Aron Hakodesh in Memory of Captain Yedidia Lev at the Bet Knesset in Tal Menashe
On the August 29, 2024, the dedication of the new Aron Hakodesh (Holy Ark) took place at the Bet Knesset in Tal Menashe. Aron Hakodesh was donated by the Lev family in memory and in honor of their son, Captain Yedidia Lev, who fell in combat in Gaza. Yedidia served in the Shaked Battalion of the Givati Brigade. During the fighting, he was on a combat team in Battalion 52 of the 401 Brigade, the unit that led the Israeli forces in the combat in Gaza. After two weeks of fighting, while covering his attacking soldiers from the “Namer” (Armored Personnel Carrier), he was killed by a terrorist snipper.
Thirty Years on the Ground
The community of Tal Menashe was established about thirty years ago. The synagogue initially operated from a temporary caravan. About five years ago, a new synagogue was built in the community. Architect Ze’ev Moskovitz has designed the Aron Hakodesh, but it was not constructed due to budget constraints. Following Yedidya’s death, the family decided to establish the Aron Hakodesh in his memory. The necessary budget was raised from close family, dear friends who rallied to the cause, and the Samaria Regional Council.
“The design of Aron Hakodesh played an important role in our decision”, say Orna and Noam Lev, Yedidya’s parents, adding: “Aron Hakodesh is narrow and tall. In its center is a Star of David, which is a significant element in the structure of the ark. To us, it represents Yedidya, who was a lover of Israel, a serial traveler, and a nature enthusiast. In the slanted ceiling of his room, Yedidya hung the Israeli flag, symbolizing his love and loyalty to the country. The Holy Ark reaches up to the slanted ceiling of the synagogue and protrudes into a recess created in the ceiling. It looks as if the ark is rising up to the skies. The coincidental connection between the design of Aron Hakodesh and its placement in the synagogue, alongside the ceiling of Yedidya’s room, struck a chord in our hearts. Everything came together.”
Jewish Heritage and Advanced Engineering
The engineering design and construction of the Holy Ark was entrusted to Lavie Furniture Industries. The company faced fascinating technical challenges. For example, the synagogue accommodates worshippers from different backgrounds. It stores 15 Torah scrolls and allows each congregation to easily access its own Torah scroll without having to touch the other scrolls. To achieve this, the engineering team created pull-out drawers, each of which supports four Torah scrolls.
Each drawer can be pulled out to easily reach any of the Torah scrolls. The innovative pull-out mechanism developed in Lavie is unique and unmatched in the world.
Later, the team dealt with the challenging connection between the top of the Ark and the niche in the ceiling. For this, the Ark was fully constructed in the factory in Kibbutz Lavie. It was then dismantled and rebuilt in the synagogue, reaching its highest point exactly at the center of the niche in the ceiling. It seems as though the Ark is breaking its way upward.
The Lev family, together with Lavie’s team, hope that the new Ark will bring light and joy to the congregation at Tal Menashe, and thanks to it, the legacy of Yedidia Lev will remain engraved in the hearts of all the worshippers.
