Carlsbad, CA (special) -- Merrill Kornbluth didn't say much about it, but every month she contributed some money to Congregation Etz Rimon with the notation "Torah fund."

"What Torah fund?" wondered other members of the Reform congregation, which had been started approximately a year and a half ago in Carlsbad

Kornbluth replied that she hoped someday the congregation would be able to have a Torah of its own, instead of having to borrow one.  So, she said, she decided she would contribute toward it.

Soon other congregants followed her quiet example, contributing money to the Torah fund when they wanted to honor someone, or to mark a special celebration.

In a fairly short time, the Torah fund grew large enough that Kornbluth, congregational president Eitan Aharoni and vice president Marilyn Clement decided to travel up to Orange County to meet with Rabbi Haim Asa, rabbi emeritus of Congregation B'nai Tikvah in Fullerton.

Rabbi Asa often purchases Torahs on his trips to Israel, bringing them to his son, who is a sofer, for renovation.

There were two Torahs that attracted the attention of the delegation from Congregation Etz Rimon.   One, remembered Clement,