Twice a year my apparel company has an exhibition at The Sands Expo Convention Center, drawing buyers from around the world. During the week of the exhibit, we daven at the Venetian Hotel every morning at 6:30.
Last year, at the conclusion of Wednesday’s prayers, my friend Eli realized that we did not have a Sefer Torah for Thursday’s service. He asked me to call the Chabad Lubavitch Center and ask the rabbi if we could borrow a Torah. The rabbi readily agreed, and said we could pick it up that night at 10. Eli, Moishe and I picked up the Torah with Eli’s rented car, and warmly thanked the rabbi – telling him we would return it after the next day’s morning prayers.
Eli then carried the Torah to the car wrapped in a tallis.
As I gently placed the Torah in the back seat, Eli and Moishe asked me which hotel I was staying at. “Harrah’s Hotel,” I responded. They told me to keep the Torah in my room because I was located next door to the Venetian Hotel, site of the minyan.
After bringing the Sefer Torah to my room, I wondered, “Wow! What do I do now?” After all, I had never slept with a Torah in my room. I placed the Torah ever so carefully on the table next to the window and wrapped it in the tallis.
Early the following morning, I walked with the Sefer Torah through the hotel’s casino to the minyan location. As I was passing through the sparse crowd, a fellow sitting at a gaming table got up and kissed the Torah.
Upon arrival, everyone at minyan was very happy to see me with the Torah.
May we all continue to learn Torah and perform mitzvos until the arrival of Moshiach Tzidkeinu.