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At the start of a dedication for a new Torah at Congregation Etz Ahaim on Sunday in Highland Park, Rabbi David Bassous noted something even more unusual than a girl who asks for, and gets, a Torah for her bat mitzvah gift -- two girls from the same family who both get Torahs for their bat mitzvahs.

Such is the case in the Morris family, due to the tradition passed down by a sofer (scribe) from the Yemenite city of Aden who was the father of Ray Morris, Etz Ahaim's president. Two years after Ray's granddaughter Samantha received a Torah for her bat mitzvah and donated it to the congregation, her sister Gabrielle did the same.

Gabrielle called up community members one by one, most of who were her cousins, to watch Bassous inscribe the final letters in what is now the fifth Torah at Etz Ahaim, Middlesex County's only Sephardic synagogue. About 30 of Gabrielle's relatives were in attendance, making the event a true family affair.

"It means that I am following the heritage and the tradition of my family, to continue to do mitzvot and be part of the community, and to help the community," Ray Morris said about both of his granddaughters donating Torahs to Etz Ahaim.

"My main important thing is to make sure that this synagogue, being a Sephardic synagogue, will be to continue with Sephardic heritage and make sure that we continue the tradition of our founders who came from Salonika [Greece] and Turkey," he added.

Both Torahs were gifts from the family of Joseph Jingoli, who met the Morris family through doing business with Jack Morris, Samantha and Gabrielle's father, and went on to develop a close personal friendship with Ray Morris.

Jingoli isn't Jewish, but became fascinated with Jewish tradition during dinners with Ray, whom he called "a wonderful teacher of Jewish history." Jingoli said that Ray taught him how a Torah was a powerful symbol, and after discussions with his family decided it would be a fitting bat mitzvah present for Samantha.

"When it came time for Sam's bat mitzvah I wanted to do something that was special, that was meaningful, that was part of her religion and her family's history," Jingoli said.

"It really makes myself and my family feel wonderful that we were able to do that, and we know that this gift will outlive us all," he added.

Regarding the special gifts his daughters received, Jack Morris said that, "It's a lot of blessings for the family and our friends, but [also] for our entire community."

After evening services and before the dedication, Bassous pointed out the serendipity of the dedication falling out on the weekend of Parshat Nitzavim-Vayelech, a portion that includes the mitzvah of writing a Torah scroll (which happens to be the final positive commandment in the Torah, described in a verse that states "And now write down this song for yourselves," Deuteronomy 31:19).

During the dedication, Bassous explained that a Torah must be written on organic material so it can symbolically "grow with us," making it an appropriate bar or bat mitzvah gift for maturing teenagers. Torah parchment must come from the skin of a kosher animal and a Torah must be written with kosher ink, he added, so the scroll can "be fit for our mouths."

Bassous called Ray Morris and his wife Gloria the "shadchanim," or matchmakers, of the community because of the ways they bring holiness to those who are involved with the congregation and their constant work on projects like the Etz Ahaim Sisterhood and an upcoming dinner for the Bassous family's 18th year at the synagogue.