Our Temple’s medium-sized Torah has a rich and imposing history. It is a Czech Memorial Scroll (#782) and is one of 1,564 Torahs that belonged to Jewish communities in Czechoslovakia. It is held in trust for the Jewish people and is on permanent loan to the members of Temple Sholom from the Westminster Synagogue in London. 

Scroll #782 was part of a collection of synagogue possessions confiscated by the Nazis from the Jewish communities in Bohemia, Moravia, and Slovakia during the Second World War. The scrolls and other ritual items were collected by the Jewish Museum in Prague, where they were labeled, sorted, and packed in preparation for an unknown, uncertain, and, as was presumed, the most chilling of futures. At the end of the war, this collection came under the control of the Czech state. The collection was held in deteriorating conditions, making its future even less sure.

In 1963, the scrolls were acquired by a London businessman and were entrusted to the Westminster Synagogue. Many were stained and damaged. Some were wrapped in personal clothing or tallitot for protection. The trustees of the Czech Memorial Scrolls Trust classified, organized, and prepared the scrolls. Once restored, they were made available to synagogues around the world for use and display. 

Our Czech Memorial Scroll was brought to Temple Sholom by our then Temple member, Saul Barrick and his mother, in honor of his father. Saul and his siblings, Sylvia Slesssinger and Robert Barrick purchased the beautiful silver crown. A new cover was purchased in the Fall of 2024 by the Klaif Family in loving memory of Arthur Klaif. 

We use our Czech Torah for special services and Shabbatot. 

More information can be found at the Czech Torah Network and the Memorial Scrolls Trust.