Dear Friends
On 9th
February 2014 people from around the world will gather in London to commemorate
the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Czech Torah scrolls from communist
Europe. The tragedy of these
extraordinary relics is that they are often the only surviving relics of some 153
Czech Jewish communities whose members were deported and exterminated in the
Nazi death camps during WW2. The Nazis
sent the men, women and children who once used these Torah scrolls to their
death, destroying their synagogues and communities but the holy scrolls survived.
For 20 years following the war, they remained in a disused synagogue in a
Prague suburb until the communist government, in need of hard currency, decided
they should be sold. They were thus acquired by Westminster Synagogue and, in
1964, 1564 scrolls arrived in London. Many
of the scrolls were in a pitiful condition – torn, damaged by fire and water –
a grim testimony to the fate of the people who had once prayed with them.
The Memorial Scrolls
Trust has given these precious scrolls a second life by lovingly restoring them
and loaning them to over 1,400 communities around the world, thereby spreading
their message to new generations in diverse communities and institutions such
as yours.
The particular history
of these scrolls means that they are dynamic messengers, especially as we near
the day when witnesses to the events of the Holocaust will no longer be with
us. The scrolls are not only a reminder of the atrocities committed against our
brothers and sisters in Europe, but also help us with our renewed mission:
To Remember the Czech communities
before the Holocaust
To Challenge
us to
confront prejudice and hatred
To Inspire us into action to
commit to a Jewish life and education, and build bridges across communities
We warmly invite you
to join us at a Commemorative Service to be held at Westminster Synagogue, Kent
House, London SW7 1BX at 6:30pm on 9th of February 2014.
We hope you can join
us for what will be a very meaningful and moving occasion, bringing your Torah
with you. It would be appreciated if you could please RSVP
to the following email by January 15th.
If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at info@memorialscrollstrust.org
Wish very best wishes,
Evelyn Friedlander
Chair
Memorial Scrolls Trust
