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The Torah Road Trip: Abraham Rides Shotgun
In September of 2007, three years after his father had passed and just before the Jewish High Holidays, Bruce Levin got a call from above.
It was from his mother! His mom told him that their family’s former synagogue in Connecticut was closing, and was looking to find a new home for one of its Torahs… the Sephardic Torah his father had donated in the early 1960s.
This was an opportunity Bruce couldn’t pass up. He met with the rabbi from his current temple in Northbrook, Illinois just outside of Chicago, who with open arms agreed to adopt this Torah and offered to build a special ark for it.
After learning of the many restrictions involved in handling and shipping a Torah imposed by The Jewish Code of Law, Bruce ended up flying to Connecticut, renting a Chevy Blazer SUV (dubbed the “Torah Blazer”), and driving it halfway across the country to its new home. Lo and behold, he embarked upon a Torah Road Trip!
This lighthearted story of Bruce’s two-day journey transporting these sacred scrolls makes for quite a fun, unforgettable ride. In addition to his experiences on the open road, this adventure brings to life the story of his father, Abraham, whose character strikes a close resemblance to a fellow in the Torah by the same name. It features his father’s memoirs and their relationship together. And along with some valuable learnings from the Torah itself, reveals some of the secrets of what it takes to be a good father.
It was from his mother! His mom told him that their family’s former synagogue in Connecticut was closing, and was looking to find a new home for one of its Torahs… the Sephardic Torah his father had donated in the early 1960s.
This was an opportunity Bruce couldn’t pass up. He met with the rabbi from his current temple in Northbrook, Illinois just outside of Chicago, who with open arms agreed to adopt this Torah and offered to build a special ark for it.
After learning of the many restrictions involved in handling and shipping a Torah imposed by The Jewish Code of Law, Bruce ended up flying to Connecticut, renting a Chevy Blazer SUV (dubbed the “Torah Blazer”), and driving it halfway across the country to its new home. Lo and behold, he embarked upon a Torah Road Trip!
This lighthearted story of Bruce’s two-day journey transporting these sacred scrolls makes for quite a fun, unforgettable ride. In addition to his experiences on the open road, this adventure brings to life the story of his father, Abraham, whose character strikes a close resemblance to a fellow in the Torah by the same name. It features his father’s memoirs and their relationship together. And along with some valuable learnings from the Torah itself, reveals some of the secrets of what it takes to be a good father.
330 pages, Paperback
Published December 11, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 8, 2026
This was a book club Book, and it didn't even meet my hopes/expectations. The Torah/road trip didn't even get Hinted at until over halfway through!
The first part was a history of the main character/ narrator's father, and seriously, it was interesting and heartfelt- the book would have been better if it Had concentrated on that instead of The Torah and it's road trip , which was really kind of dull; the fact that there is a difference between an Ashkenazic and a Sephardic Torah was a surprise to more than just me, And That was Kind of the whole reason for a round trip to start with. I was just a bit disappointed In the time Spent and the other things that could have been done with the book..
The first part was a history of the main character/ narrator's father, and seriously, it was interesting and heartfelt- the book would have been better if it Had concentrated on that instead of The Torah and it's road trip , which was really kind of dull; the fact that there is a difference between an Ashkenazic and a Sephardic Torah was a surprise to more than just me, And That was Kind of the whole reason for a round trip to start with. I was just a bit disappointed In the time Spent and the other things that could have been done with the book..
November 15, 2025
Best book Ever!!!
What a beautiful tribute to your family and especially your father. Time goes by so quickly and now and forevermore your family will have this incredible book to cherish. I too believe that the spirit of a loved one is always with you.......
What a beautiful tribute to your family and especially your father. Time goes by so quickly and now and forevermore your family will have this incredible book to cherish. I too believe that the spirit of a loved one is always with you.......
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews