Ain’t no mountain high enough
MOSES may have carried the Ten Commandments down Mount Sinai, but a group of Jewish doctors, dentists, lawyers and businessmen are going one step further – shlepping a Torah scroll up a mountain.
MOSES may have carried the Ten Commandments down Mount Sinai, but a group of Jewish doctors, dentists, lawyers and businessmen are going one step further – shlepping a Torah scroll up a mountain.
The 13 professionals are set to scale Africa’s highest peak, Kilimanjaro (5895 metres), this month, to raise funds for Keren Malki, an Israeli charity providing help to families of children with special needs.
While heading up a mountain may seem daunting enough, Dr Michael Gordon, of Melbourne, said he and his fellow climbers faced an extra task. “It’s the challenge of climbing something and doing it in a way that is appropriate to religious people,” he told The AJN.
As well as carrying the Torah, the mountaineers will hold daily prayers and keep kosher. “It adds a dimension when you climb something by keeping Jewish laws,” Gordon said.
There’ll be no traditional day of rest, however. Because of the dangers of altitude sickness, a consequence of slow movement on mountains, the climb has been wedged between two Shabbats. Of course, one of the key mitzvot the group will be observing is tzedakah. The participants have set their sights on raising $50,000 on behalf of Australian Friends of Keren Malki.
With that in mind, they’re confident of reaching the top. Or fairly confident. “These are not professional athletes,” said Ralph Greenberger of his fellow climbers. “They are regular, everyday guys – who are not the youngest either. It’s a gutsy effort.”
However, the climbers do have experience – they trekked up Mount Everest in 2009.
To make a donation to Keren Malki, call Joe Roth on 0412 382 935 or email nafwood@optusnet.com.au.
TIMNA JACKS
Kosher climbers: Henry Debinski (front) and fellow mountaineers take a break from climbing Mt Everest in 2009 to davven shacharit
comments