The Steiner Files
4
Say Kaddish… But Not Mournfully…
It is a lovely, fresh, blue-skied, autumnal day here in London. I came to the library of the Trust to write the fourth Steiner story. After my MST ritual of popping into the Scroll Room where 130 Czech Torah scrolls are on view, saying "Hi" to them in English and then Czech (in case they have not yet mastered English), telling them that they are amazing, I find my way to my desk, a folder from the files of Frank Steiner’s correspondence in hand.
One of the recurring themes in Frank Steiner’s correspondence with the US communities receiving the Czech Scrolls is a call to remember the name of the Scroll Town in memory of the perished community and to say Kaddish for its people.
Frank Steiner describes this in a letter to Ms. Fern Seckbach, Keter Publishing House Jerusalem Ltd, in Jerusalem, Israel dated the 4th of May 1984:
“We are dedicating ourselves to tracing the origin of each Torah – the name of the town it is from and making the history of these towns available to the places who presently have these Torah. This way the memory of these now nonexistent Jewish communities will be remembered – and we recommend that Kaddish be said at least once a year naming the particular town. In most instances no one has ever said Kaddish for the Jews of these towns.”
In fact, many congregations had been asked by the Steiners to say Kaddish for the perished communities upon the receiving of the scroll. An example of which can be seen in a letter to Mr Cotlar in Sun Lakes Jewish community, Arizona from the 30th of August 1985:
“Please be so kind and we ask one favour of you. At least once a year say Kaddish naming the Jews of Koloděje by name – no one ever said Kaddish for them when they perished. Thank you.”
At times the responses to these requests are extremely touching. After the dedication of Torah # 77 into their community in September 1985, Mr Cotlar replies:
“Dear Mr Steiner, I want to thank you for your rapid reply to my phone request. The information reached me with plenty of time to use it for the dedication ceremony. We had well over a hundred people in attendance, including clergy from other faiths that utilize our All Faith’s Chapel here in Sun Lakes. I related the history of Koloděje as outlined in your information. Many of those in attendance were moved by the recital and when the Torah was brought in with its new mantle (made by one of our congregants), there were hushed expressions of respect. When the Torah was held aloft for “v’zos ha torah”, all were moved. Many expressions of gratitude were expressed and I want you to feel certain that the Koloděje Torah has found a home among those that love Torah in Sun Lakes. As soon as pictures are available, as well as news articles, I will send you copies as well as to Mrs Shaffer in London. My personal regards for a healthy and prosperous new year. L’Shannah tovah. Sincerely, Charles Cotlar.”
Or Samuel Frank, whose congregation Hakafa in Highland Park, Illinois received a Torah scroll from the town of Loštice #753, writes on the 5th of December 1985:
“… The presentation that I made, during our regular Sabbath service… complete with eight or ten slides… drew a crowd almost as big as Kol Nidre. People that we rarely see came that night since all of the local suburban newspaper in the Pioneer Press chain picked up the story. (You will note that the non-Jewish make-up man at the newspaper put the detail photograph of the Torah’s repair in upside down.)
I was going to suggest that we add a special section to our regular yearly Shoah commemoration, in remembrance of Loštice. But, the more I thought about it, the more I felt that it was too mournful, too sorrowful, too gigantic a matter for us humans to deal with. I didn’t want our Torah to be a symbol of horror and sorrow. I felt it should be associated, instead, with joy and rebirth… just as the memory of Loštice has had a rebirth with us. So, I suggested that we include a special section in our services for Simchas Tora, instead. But the Rabbi took it one step further. He suggested that our Torah, and Loštice, were important enough to stand on their own and not have to share a holiday with any other matter. So, we have designated the Friday night before Thanksgiving as “Loštice Shabbat” and each year we will honor the memory of the community and say Kaddish … but not mournfully. But rather in joy that their memory has been passed on and rekindled and that the continuum is once again complete.
Once more, Mr Steiner, my most sincere thanks for all of your help. You’ve been a wonderful aid and your encouragement made it possible for us to have a heightened feeling of kinship and association with our brethren of long ago and far, far away.”
When I read these lines, and see what an impact a single saved Czech Torah can have on its new community, I go back to the Sefer Torahs’ room and look in awe and in silent contemplation at the powerful potential lying on the shelves in front of me.
Jari Shani (05.11.2021)
Editor: in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's Sofer David Brand and Ruth Shaeffer would speak with each other in Yiddish. So it is possible that the Czech Scrolls in London have not yet learnt English...
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