Our recent anniversary was a wonderful reminder that for sixty years we have been on a journey of the spirit. That journey has continued for the last ten days in Russia as well as in Houston, as our group of members brought a Torah scroll to St. Petersburg.

Anything less than "amazing" would fail to describe adequately our experience on this journey. Every one of us has been touched deeply by our encounters with the nascent Reform Jewish communities of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The look on the faces of Jews who are hungry for Jewish sights and sounds when they heard Cantor Tunitsky sing both traditional and contemporary Jewish music was inspiring. Hearing songs that we hear regularly but were new to them, we all realized quickly how Jewishly impoverished the Jews of Russia are. It made all of us proud that we were able to bring this bit of Jewish culture to them.

We met with two groups of young people.

The first one was at Machon. These are the students who come to Moscow from all over the Former Soviet Union for two years of intensive Jewish study, preparing them to become para-rabbis in their communities. A few go on to become rabbis, but the majority remain lay people who accept responsibility for continuing Jewish education so that they can conduct worship and study. Their dedication is awe- inspiring,

The second group was in St. Petersburg. It consisted of a dozen or more young adults in their 20's who gather weekly for Havdalah and comradeship. We spent almost two hours interacting - discussing issues like Jewish identity in Russia, their hopes and dream for the future, and how important marrying a Jewish spouse and raising Jewish children are to them. Their search for a deeper Jewish life is impressive and their desire for learning more is never-ending.

Without a doubt though, the most moving event was Erev Shabbat at our newly formed twin congregation in St. Petersburg, as we passed the Torah scroll from our congregation to theirs. The congregation rose as we sang together. I held the Torah and Cantor Tunitsky translated my message to them that the scroll began its life in Russia almost 100 years ago. With our journey, the scroll was returning home to continue its task as the soul of the Jewish people. Dolores Wilkenfeld, Cantor Tunitsky and I dressed the scroll with its new breastplate, yad and crowns and their president accepted it. She spoke briefly and passed it to their Rabbi. It was a tearful moment as we sang "Etz Chayim Hi" and their Rabbi placed the Torah Scroll in the Ark.

At the Oneg Shabbat following, I told them that the belt for the scroll was made by our member Caren Cowan and signed by her and the entire Emanu El delegation, and presented to them with several ritual items: a Chanukiah from the Pasternak Family, a Havdalah set and Shabbat candlesticks from Sisterhood, along with kippot, talitot and challah cover.

And this is just the beginning.

Our goal is to strengthen and deepen our religion by continuing to exchange ideas and even people over time. We have much to offer each other and much to learn from each other. With our help, the fledgling congregation, soon to choose its name, can bring new vitality to Jewish people who for 75 years were deprived access to their religious roots. We will not only be working to save Jews. We'll be working to save Judaism as well. From my mouth to God's ears.