JAMES A. JONES JR.
The Herald
A Torah scroll that survived the hatred and devastation of the Holocaust has made its way to Sarasota to become an inspiration to local Jewish children.
Saturday, it will be celebrated with a dedication by Chabad of Sarasota and the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation.
"It links the past to the future. It represents the survival of the Jewish people," Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz said. "We are victorious because we can take that same Torah they tried to eradicate more than 60 years ago and the little children can benefit from it today."
The dedication of any Torah - the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Books of Moses - stirs strong emotion in any Jewish congregation, but none more so than a Holocaust Torah, Steinmetz said.
The age of the Torah to be dedicated Saturday is unknown, but could be several centuries old. It came from the town of Trest, in what was then Czechoslovakia, Steinmetz said.
It was among those rediscovered in the early 1960s when an English businessman traveled to the Eastern European country.
A Czech official, knowing that the visitor was Jewish, took him to the basement of a government building.
"As he turned on the light, he saw the greatest treasure on Earth for us: hundreds of Torahs," Steinmetz said.
How the Torahs survived a period of history when millions of Jews were being slaughtered in Europe is a mystery. Many Torahs were burned, or their parchment recycled and made into other products. But Steinmetz believes someone may have saved them for their value as historical documents.
Eventually, many of the Torahs were rescued and made their way to North America, Israel and Europe.
Although many are no longer "kosher" because of bug or water damage, they remain valuable for their historical and religious significance.
Philanthropists Sally and Sam Shapiro, who split their time between Longboat Key and Wooster, Ohio, donated the Torah to the Sarasota congregation.
Steinmetz said he had tears in his eyes when Sam Shapiro showed him the Torah for the first time.
"We study the Torah from childhood until we die. It could have been some of my grandparents who were using it," Steinmetz said.
The dedication will be celebrated Saturday with singing, dancing and food. Other congregations are invited.
Rabbi Mendy Bukiet, of Chabad of Bradenton, based at Lakewood Ranch, said Wednesday the dedication of a Holocaust Torah is a "wonderful celebration. They are rare and very precious. We wish Rabbi Steinmetz a lot of success. It should be a good year."
James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee editor, can be reached at 708-7916 or at jajones1@HeraldToday.com.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Dedication of a 150-year-old Torah that survived the Nazi holocaust.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road, Sarasota
WHO: Public invited
INFORMATION: 925-0770 or rabbi@chabadofsarasota.com
The Herald
A Torah scroll that survived the hatred and devastation of the Holocaust has made its way to Sarasota to become an inspiration to local Jewish children.
Saturday, it will be celebrated with a dedication by Chabad of Sarasota and the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation.
"It links the past to the future. It represents the survival of the Jewish people," Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz said. "We are victorious because we can take that same Torah they tried to eradicate more than 60 years ago and the little children can benefit from it today."
The dedication of any Torah - the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Books of Moses - stirs strong emotion in any Jewish congregation, but none more so than a Holocaust Torah, Steinmetz said.
The age of the Torah to be dedicated Saturday is unknown, but could be several centuries old. It came from the town of Trest, in what was then Czechoslovakia, Steinmetz said.
It was among those rediscovered in the early 1960s when an English businessman traveled to the Eastern European country.
A Czech official, knowing that the visitor was Jewish, took him to the basement of a government building.
"As he turned on the light, he saw the greatest treasure on Earth for us: hundreds of Torahs," Steinmetz said.
How the Torahs survived a period of history when millions of Jews were being slaughtered in Europe is a mystery. Many Torahs were burned, or their parchment recycled and made into other products. But Steinmetz believes someone may have saved them for their value as historical documents.
Eventually, many of the Torahs were rescued and made their way to North America, Israel and Europe.
Although many are no longer "kosher" because of bug or water damage, they remain valuable for their historical and religious significance.
Philanthropists Sally and Sam Shapiro, who split their time between Longboat Key and Wooster, Ohio, donated the Torah to the Sarasota congregation.
Steinmetz said he had tears in his eyes when Sam Shapiro showed him the Torah for the first time.
"We study the Torah from childhood until we die. It could have been some of my grandparents who were using it," Steinmetz said.
The dedication will be celebrated Saturday with singing, dancing and food. Other congregations are invited.
Rabbi Mendy Bukiet, of Chabad of Bradenton, based at Lakewood Ranch, said Wednesday the dedication of a Holocaust Torah is a "wonderful celebration. They are rare and very precious. We wish Rabbi Steinmetz a lot of success. It should be a good year."
James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee editor, can be reached at 708-7916 or at jajones1@HeraldToday.com.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Dedication of a 150-year-old Torah that survived the Nazi holocaust.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Chabad of Sarasota, 7700 Beneva Road, Sarasota
WHO: Public invited
INFORMATION: 925-0770 or rabbi@chabadofsarasota.com
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