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, July 27 2024
21 Tammuz 5784
Temple israel Happenings
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Tuesday ,
JulJuly 30 , 2024Sisterhood Book Club - "The Women"
Tuesday, Jul 30th 6:00pm to 8:30pm
We will discuss the book over dinner at someone's home. You will get their address the day before the event. Please bring your own dinner or something to share as pot luck. We are looking forward to hearing your opinion! -
Wednesday ,
AugAugust 7 , 2024Cocktails at the Lake with Sisterhood
Wednesday, Aug 7th 4:00pm to 7:00pm
RAIN DATE THURSDAY, AUGUST 8th. All women of Temple Israel and their friends are invited to a social, relaxing sunset potluck dinner at Stillwater Lake in Ossining. Come at 3:00 if you'd like to take a refreshing swim in the beautiful, clear lake with a sandy beach. To keep this cost-free, please sign up to bring something for the potluck AND register to attend below. Come for the whole time or stop by after work for a drink, snack, swim & shmooze. -
Friday ,
AugAugust 9 , 2024Shabbat Shabbang
Friday, Aug 9th 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Join our clergy for songs, music, crafts, challah, pizza, and yummy treats! We welcome families with children 7 and under (and their older siblings). Bring a friend to share in our Shabbat! -
Monday ,
AugAugust 12 , 2024Community Service Through Flowers
Monday, Aug 12th 11:00am to 12:30pm
The program promotes a sense of peace and unity within our community and beyond through acts of loving kindness and social justice. Our goal is to bring joy into the lives of the elderly by creating floral arrangements which are distributed to local nursing homes and to build community among volunteers through this process.
Events
Today's Calendar
: 9:30am |
Friday Night
: 7:00pm |
Shabbat Day
: 9:30am |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Jul 28 Matt Mansfield Sunday, Jul 28 2:00pm |
Jul 30 |
Aug 7 |
Aug 8 Private Memorial Service Thursday, Aug 8 10:00am |
Aug 9 |
This week's Torah portion is Parashat Pinchas
Shabbat, Jul 27 |
Erev Tishah B'Av
Monday, Aug 12 |