The event drew hundreds of participants, including family members, friends, rabbis, public figures, and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion. Together, they witnessed the writing of the final letters of the Torah scroll, contributed by the bereaved families. Later, the scroll was carried in a procession through the streets of Jerusalem, accompanied by music and singing, before being placed in the Ark at the “Ohel Yosef ve-Sarah” synagogue.

Norelle, her partner Amit, and her sister Roya were among the many victims of the terrorist massacre at the Nova music festival. As rockets rained down, they sought refuge in a roadside shelter along Route 232, only to be attacked with grenades and heavy gunfire by terrorists. Within minutes, all three were killed, leaving an irreplaceable void among their loved ones.

“Leading initiatives of memory, connection, and empowerment for bereaved families and the wounded is part of our mission,” said Jonathan Riss, Director of the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem. “Ceremonies such as the dedication of this Torah scroll give honor to the fallen, strengthen the families, and reaffirm our commitment to enshrining their stories in the living heart of Jerusalem.”

The Museum’s Beit Midrash, where the ceremony was held, already houses a Sephardic Torah scroll adorned with oriental motifs, dedicated to the fallen of the Iron Swords War, written by scribe David Moyal and donated by Deborah and James Lustig. Alongside it, a special Ark was designed by architect Mimi Lam, carved from solid wood to resemble flames rising to the heavens.

This new Torah scroll and its dedication mark yet another step in preserving the memory of October 7 and in establishing the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem as a central place of learning, commemoration, and unity in Jerusalem.