Centuries-old Torah survived Holocaust, finds permanent home at Nova Southeastern
A Torah scroll that was written in the 18th century in Eastern Europe and hidden by the Nazis in Prague during the Holocaust, has found a permanent home at Nova Southeastern University in Davie.
The Torah can be viewed at the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection and Resource Center located in NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library, 3100 Ray Ferrero, Jr. Blvd. in Davie.
The Torah comes from the Pinkas Synagogue in Prague, which was founded in the 16th century. In 1964, the Torah was transferred to London for conservation by the Memorial Scrolls Trust.
“We have been granted a permanent loan of this important artifact by the Memorial Scrolls Trust which was facilitated by Dr. David and Helen Glassman of Fort Lauderdale,” said Craig Weiner, president of the Holocaust Learning and Education Fund, which he co-founded with his wife Barbara Weiner in 2013.
Throughout the years, the HLEF has conducted a number of educational programs for middle and high school students throughout South Florida. These programs include visits by both public and private schools to the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection and Resource Center.
“Being able to visit and see this Torah close up and personal is a very meaningful experience for the visitors to the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Reflection and Resource Center,” Craig Weiner said. “We are able to see, first-hand, a Torah that is close to 300 years old, which survived the plunder and destruction of the Nazis.”
Weiner continued, “Had this Torah not been so well hidden and cared for, it would most likely not exist today.”
“Another fascinating thing about this particular Torah which makes it different from all others is that there is actually one paragraph in the Torah which has been intentional indented by the sofer,” Weiner said.
Weiner added, “Usually a Torah is written with all lines of script beginning from right to left.”
“In this case, there is one paragraph that has been purposely indented,” he noted. “That paragraph is commonly known as the ancient priestly benediction which states, ‘The Lord bless you and protect you. The Lord deal kindly and graciously with you. The Lord bestow his favor upon you and grant you peace.’”
Weiner concluded, “The visitors are able to see this exact section of the Torah the way it has been exhibited.”
Rabbi Norman Lipson, emeritus at Temple Dor Dorim in Weston, said, “To see a Torah from the 1700s is an amazing sight.”
“To realize that it’s something that has survived known and unknown tragedies, along with the everyday experiences of living Jewish communities, is not only a silent testimony to the enduring strength of the Jewish people in spite of horrific odds. It’s also the testimony to the people of what was really important,” he continued.
Lipson noted, “May the people who see the scroll – Jews, non-Jews, students, visitors – be blessed by it and what it represents.”
Weiner said the Torah is an “extremely important and relevant artifact for both exhibit purposes as well as for education purposes.”
“It represents, in our view, that the Jewish faith and its people could not, and never will be, eradicated from this Earth in spite of Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels, Goering, Streicher and their collaborators,” he continued.
Weiner added, “It significantly makes clear that the Jewish people and the Jewish faith, in spite of the thousands of years of battles for survival, of being evicted from countries of hate and anti-Semitism and of defending themselves in so many wars, will always continue to survive, educate their children and stand together as a people of humanity.”
The library’s hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Masks are required and temperatures are taken at the door when people enter.
Visit holocausteducationfund.com for more information on the organization.
