By Joel A Moskowitz, M.D.
SAN DIEGO — Lou Dunst is a Holocaust survivor. He is much sought after for his lucid ability to describe, despite the horrors of his experience, his continuing faith in G-d. Does he have the answer?
There have been studies to attempt to correlate prayer and healing. “Anecdotal evidence” is an oxymoron, like “jumbo shrimp.” As a physician I have observed that patients will often turn to G-d when they receive adverse notices of dire health. Does it help? Seemingly, faith is correlated with lower blood pressure, reduced incidence of cardiac events and even disappearance of cancerous lesions. Faith also can be beneficial to mental health. Lou Dunst seems to be a testimony to religious beliefs improving his life perceptions and his longevity.
Lou and his wife Estelle participated in the writing of a Torah in the chapel of Congregation Beth Israel on Sunday, June 17. The congregation commissioned the writing of a Torah in celebration of its 150th anniversary.
In the writing of the new Torah, textual errors are forbidden. Letters must be legible and perfect. Asked what happens if a mistake is made, the scribe, Julie Selzer, said that she will let the ink dry and scrape it off and recreate it. When the sofer writes with a quill (preferably a goose feather), the congregant places his or her fingers lightly on the scribe’s wrist during the meticulous process.
Selzer doesn’t depend on her memory. The words are copied from a master version called a Tikkun. Selzer is among the earliest female scribes to claim the honor to write an entire Torah.
The Torah has precisely 304,805 letters. To inscribe a letter, an adult is expected to donate $36 to the synagogue; or for a word, $72 . A chapter fetches a donation of $360. The contributions may reach $36,000, or more.
The Dunsts rescued a Torah damaged in the Holocaust which they previously donated to C.B.I. Belief in Hashem has rescued Lou Dunst. His continuing religious fervor is an inspiration to others, Jews and non-Jews alike.
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Moskowitz is a freelance writer based in La Jolla, California. He may be contacted at joel.moskowitz@sdjewishworld.com