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Temple Israel of Northern Westchester Holocaust Rescued Torah
Temple Israel of Northern Westchester Holocaust Rescued Torah
Our Torah belonged to the Jewish community of Austerlitz, in what is now the Czech Republic. The Jewish cemetery at Austerlitz dated from the 12th century. Over the years, the population of the community waxed and waned. In the 19th century the community flourished as it restored its synagogue, introduced a more modern service with a cantor and a choir and had a German-Jewish school that educated three classes of students. By the early 20th century, the Jewish population began to decline following an anti-Semitic outrage in 1905 in which many Jewish houses were destroyed. In 1938, the Nazis occupied the region, and two years later, all the Jews from the surrounding area were taken to Austerlitz. Members of the local Jewish community were required to take these new residents into their own homes, giving them food and shelter. In 1942 the Jews of Austerlitz, together with their new guests, were given orders to prepare for deportation. The community was given a few days to prepare for the journey. Early one morning they were taken by truck to the nearby large town of Brno before being sent to Terezin not too long afterwards. From there most of the community were sent to the death camps in the east never to return.
When they were in power, the Nazis collected religious artifacts from plundered synagogues, including this Torah scroll, and brought them to Prague, intending to open an “Exotic Museum of an Extinct Race.” After the war, the Czechoslovakian government gained control over this collection. The Torah scrolls lay in storage for several years until the 1960’s, when they were sold to a London businessman. This man brought the Torah scrolls to the Westminster synagogue, and a trust was established to re-house them in synagogues all over the world. Ted Stone, a member of our congregation who used to blow the shofar during the High Holy Days, heard of the effort to re-house these Torah scrolls. Through his efforts, the Torah scroll in our Ark came to Temple Israel in 1967.
The Torah is on permanent loan from the Memorial Scrolls Trust in London.
Sat, April 27 2024
19 Nisan 5784
Temple israel Happenings
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Saturday ,
AprApril 27 , 2024Shabbat Yoga with Robin Wald
Shabbat, Apr 27th 10:30am to 11:30am
Join us for a joyful and peaceful Shabbat morning yoga and contemplative practice. Together we will explore Jewish wisdom around Shabbat and the Torah parsha through embodied movement, breath, meditation and personal rest and reflection. The program will be accessible for all levels of physical and meditation practice - beginner through advanced. -
Sunday ,
AprApril 28 , 2024Fullerhouse Center for Housing with Brotherhood-Offsite
Sunday, Apr 28th 9:00am to 12:00pm
Please join us to help address homelessness in Westchester by volunteering for a build event. This is a great opportunity for our teens to participate in some very important community service and earn community service credits. Please note that teens should be accompanied by an adult. -
Monday ,
AprApril 29 , 2024Passover Yizkor Service
Monday, Apr 29th 10:00am to 11:00am
Yizkor is a memorial service held on the last days of festivals and on Yom Kippur. We will gather with Rabbi Pein at Temple Israel on the 7th day of Passover for this brief service, as we remember and honor our loved ones who have died. To help us with planning, please register if you are planning to attend this Yizkor service. -
Wednesday ,
MayMay 1 , 2024Sisterhood Book Club - Online
Wednesday, May 1st 7:30pm to 8:30pm
"Heaven and Earth Grocery Store" by James McBride
Events
Today's Calendar
Chol Hamoed Passover |
: 9:30am |
: 10:30am |
Friday Night
: 5:30pm |
: 7:00pm |
Candle Lighting : 7:38pm |
Shabbat Day
: 9:30am |
: 10:30am |
: 7:00pm |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Apr 27 |
Apr 28 |
Apr 28 Women's Journal Group Sunday, Apr 28 10:00am |
Apr 28 |
Apr 29 |
Candle Lighting
Shabbat, Apr 27, 7:31pm |
Chol Hamoed Passover
Shabbat, Apr 27 |