Yesterday a very joyous event took place in the City Rova of Ashdod: a chanukas habayis and a hachnassas sefer Torah to the new synagogue of French immigrants. The community is led by Rabbi Rafael Pinto, France, and Rabbi Chananyah Pinto shlita, who is a son of Rabbi David Pinto and heads the 'Orot Chaim U'Moshe' institutions in Israel and abroad.

Ashdod's French community has grown tenfold in the past few years, and the inauguration of a new Torah center was a natural step for the flourishing community. The event was held at the 'Benistal' hall on Ha'orgim Street in Ashdod last night, and began with the writing of the final letters in the new sefer Torah. The event was attended by prominent rabbis and a large excited crowd. The main speech of the event was held by Rabbi Pinto. The sefer Torah was donated l'ilui nishmas Chana bat Yemina and Aharon bar Isha Mor Yosef a"h.

For the past five years, there has been a steady flow of French immigrants to the port city, with most of the families settling in the City Rova. Many of the immigrants are coming from Leon, France, and are having a hard time adapting to their new surroundings without their regular shiurim that Rabbi Pinto delivers in France.

Therefore, Rabbi Pinto sent his son, Rabbi Rafael Pinto, to serve as their Rav. He established two synagogues in the City Rova and has also established a synagogue for the French community in Ra'anana, where he regularly delivers shiurim.
He additionally initiated several youth programs to cater to the specific needs of the French teenager immigrants.

The event was extremely successful and leads the way to the French community's continuous growth and glowing future in Ashdod.

Rabbi Pinto and his son during a shiur  [דוד סגל]