The late Ilan Ramon took with him into space a tiny Torah scroll that Professor Yehoyachin Yosef, a Holocaust survivor, brought with him from the Bergen Belzan camp Rona Ramon "I suggested that the shuttle crew take the Torah scroll with him into space as a symbol of closing the circle and conveying the important message that Ilan wanted to convey
Professor Henry Finale
The crew of the Atlantis shuttle that landed about two weeks ago (Thursday, 21.9.06), carried with them to their space mission a small Torah book in memory of the late Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon.
As I recall, the late Ilan Ramon took with him into space a tiny Torah scroll that Professor Yehoichin Yosef, a Holocaust survivor, brought with him from the Bergen-Belsen camp. Ilan took the book as a symbol of the ability of the Jewish people to overcome these terrible days and the need to establish a Jewish state.
During a joint activity for Bar Mitzvah children in Cincinnati and Netanya, Rona Ramon discovered that there was another small Torah book written by the same scribe. The book belongs to Professor Henri Fenichel, whose life story is almost identical to the life story of Professor Yehoyachin and who is also a Holocaust survivor. Henry agreed to lend the Torah book to Rona Ramon who gave it to the crew of the shuttle Atlantis, who, as mentioned, took it with him into space.
Rona Ramon, "I suggested that the shuttle crew take the Torah book with them into space, as a symbol of closing the circle and conveying the important message that Ilan wanted to convey. The message of the human ability to overcome difficulties on a personal, national and global level. I feel that in many ways this is the closing of a circle and the message that Ilan wanted to convey has been conveyed." The ferry crew also took with them a number of personal belongings for the Ramon family.
The news was first published in NFC
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