Taken directly from the Memorial Scrolls Trust, “A series of miracles allowed a huge hoard of Czech Torah scrolls to survive the devastation of the Shoah and stand as a testament to the communities that perished. The Trust is committed to maintaining the legacy of these scrolls by dispersing 1,400 of them around the world on permanent loan from our collection. To those who were entrusted with the scrolls, they are a symbol of hope as well as sorrow. The hope pushed forward an ongoing mission. We believe these Czech scrolls should be reinstituted in Jewish life as a memorial to the vanished communities which once treasured them. The Memorial Scrolls Trust bears witness to the fulfillment of this hope. Let us teach our children about the world of miracles and let us use the scrolls to remind people about what binds them together every day.”
When the Germans planned to exterminate all of Jews from Bohemia and Moravia between 1939 to 1945, they systematically collected their prized possessions, some of which were destroyed by fire, some by flood. Ironically, the Torahs ended up at the Museum in Prague where they were protected and hidden until the end of the War to become a permanent memorial to the martyrs from whose synagogues they come.
1564 scrolls were and continue to be a testament to the legacy of Jewish life in Bohemia and Moravia. Through the generosity of Ralph and Phyllis Yablon, the ingenuity of Rabbi Dr. Harold Reinart who, with colleagues from the U.S. Reform community, formed the Westminister Synagogue and the negotiations of Eric Estorick, the Scrolls found a home in London in Knightsbridge, U.K. at the Westminister Synagogue.
There are very distinct guidelines for writing a Toral scroll that require:
- Parchment (from a kosher animal i.e. cow)
- Quill (from the feathers of a kosher bird – goose)
- Ink (special substances listed in the Talmud)
- Containing 248 columns, and 304,805 letters; copied from an examined text
Torahs are attached to wooden poles, dressed as the High Priest was dressed and described in the Book of Exodus, a binder to hold the Trees of Life together (or wooden poles), embroidered mantle and silver plate (breastplate worn by high Priest with 12 precious and semi-precious stones, 1 for each of the 12 Tribes of Israel.
The Jewish Museum in Prague was not destroyed even though those in Vienna and Frankfort were. Why the museum was not destroyed has been a mystery but luckily that is where the Torahs ended up and remained. Because the Torahs came from synagogues that were destroyed, it has been impossible to find exact details about them and the people.
We know very little about our Torahs since the towns were destroyed and the Jews rounded up to go to the Camps so whatever we can learn, we gather from the research done by the Trust and written in the books that are now in the Chapel near the Torahs. It is said that the Prague Museum is a wealth of knowledge so if anyone is taking a trip, that is a ‘not to be missed’ place.
Torah Scroll #410, written in 1860, comes from Kolin, where there was one of the oldest and largest cemeteries of Bohemia. This Torah is in memory of Sidney Hoffman and In memory of Family Members of Edward and Susan Guttmann who perished in the Shoah. Diane Servos-Newman who worked for British Airways accompanied this Torah to Rodeph Sholom in 1998.
In 2002, Scroll 718 came from Brno in Moravia, the 2nd largest city located in the South Moravian region and this one was written in 1872; it has a plain linen binder. It, too, was transported by Diane Servos-Newman personally on British Airways.
In memory of Jack Karp, husband, father and grandfather; presented by daughter and son-in-law Reba and Steven Orszag. Made available through the generosity of Shelley and Michael Kreiger and Family in honor of Rodeph Sholom’s Students who attend Jewish Day Schools. The Torah housing was dedicated in memory of Albert Allinson who felt at home in the synagogue and donated by Irma Allison and Family.
A synagogue that receives a Scroll is aware that it is on long-term loan and makes a commitment to place it in a prominent location in the synagogue and ensure that it has a meaningful role. For that reason, we re-located our scrolls to the Chapel where more people will see them than in the Sanctuary. Synagogues that either move or close are obligated to return the Torahs at their own expense to be distributed elsewhere.
At the time that we received our scrolls, the cost was a $1,500 contribution.
The Torahs were distributed throughout the world and meant to spread light, be a remembrance of the tragedy and to bear witness to the glory of the holy Name.
Rodeph Sholom officially re-dedicated these Torah Scrolls at the Annual Meeting on Monday, June 10, 2024. It is an honor to house these Torahs as we think about their meaning and remember that real people had used them at one time for Services just as we do today. Let us together never forget.