Our newly published history of the Czech Memorial Scrolls
Dear Friends
Welcome to our 31st newsletter.
From Bohemia and Moravia to you
We estimate that a million people hear Torah read from a Czech Memorial Scroll every year. In the late 1960's, the President of the Czech Jewish community wrote to us to say
We shall be glad if the Sifre Torah, which after the Holocaust of Czech Jewry were of no more of use to our few surviving communities, (are sent) wherever they are needed.
You can read the history of the Czech Memorial Scrolls in our new book "1564 Scrolls A legacy of Jewish Life in Bohemia and Moravia" which we will start to ship out in September, before the Haggim.
Our thanks to MST Archivist Miles Laddie for the many months of work he put into researching and writing the story of the Czech Jewish community, of the Scrolls during the Shoah, and of the scrolls sitting unused in the Michle Synagogue in Prague. On 5th February 1964, the scrolls started arriving at Kent House in London, to be examined, restored to kosher if possible, and sent on to your community.
The first Scroll Gathering
In summer 1965, at a cross community service at Westminster Synagogue, Chief Rabbi Dr Israel Brodie led the saying of kaddish for those who had died in the Shoah.
We encourage your community to carry on the tradition of a Scroll gathering event, in partnership with your regional scroll holder communities. We are delighted to list some of the Scroll Gatherings which are happening across the world to mark the 60th anniversary.
The MST Czech Memorial Scrolls museum
Our volunteer tour guides have been welcoming many visitors to our Museum for a 90 minute guided talk and tour. Please book your visit well in a advance at info@memorialscrollstrust.org
Jeffrey Ohrenstein,
Chairman
PS We publish many short articles and Czech Scroll Museum visitor pictures on our Facebook page - please click Facebook Like to keep in touch with us.
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