"I will give them in My house and within My walls, a monument and a name...
I will give them an everlasting name which shall not perish." Yishayahu (Isaiah) 56:5

The 1,564 sacred Scrolls which came to Westminster Synagogue on February 7, 1964 had been gathered in Prague, from the desolated synagogues of Bohemia and Moravia, by the Nazi official in charge of the Czech "Protectorate". Much more synagogue booty, books, pictures, embroidered vestments, and ceremonial objects of silver and gold, were similarly collected by the Nazis, and many of these articles are now in the State Jewish Museum in Prague. The Scrolls them selves lay piled in the disused Michle Synagogue for more than twenty years.

In 1963, with the sympathetic concern of the Czechoslovak Government, Mr. Eric Estorick, a London art connoisseur, was able to arrange with Artis, the authority responsible for such treasure, for the acquisition of the Scrolls. Mr. Ralph Yablon of London responded generously to a request to finance the enterprise; and, at his insistence, Mr. Chimen Abramsky travelled twice to Prague to make the cursory examination of the Scrolls. The packing and shipping were themselves no small undertaking; and all was done with meticulous care. It was agreed from the outset by the Czech Authorities and the British interested parties that the Scrolls should pass in trust to a responsible non-commercial body; and Mr. Yablon nominated Westminster Synagogue. The offer was solemnly accepted by the synagogue officers; and a Memorial Scrolls committee was formed under the chairmanship of Mr. Frank R. Waley, then chairman and later president of the Synagogue, gave his devoted attention to every aspect of the care and distribution of the Scrolls from the moment of their arrival until his death of 1969.

The first task of the committee was the careful unpacking and numbering of the Scrolls, and the construction of three rooms of racks designed for the purpose, with positions properly numbered so that each of the 1,564 Scrolls could be readily accounted for through the period of their study and distribution. Then came the major task of inspection. A system of cataloguing was devised; and in accordance therewith, each Scroll was gone through by an expert, and a record made, so far as was possible, of the origin and age of the Scroll, the physical condition of its components and, most important, the state of the writing and the defects therein. On the basis of this study, the Scrolls were classified into five grades, from best to unusable. The middle grades are such as can be made usable by a little or a greater amount of labor, and such as have some parts which are or can be made usable. It is hoped that eventually, with much effort and at great expense, the majority of the Scrolls will be made fit for use in Synagogues. Of the remainder, some will serve as sacred memorials.

The experts who worked on this task for part of all of the ten months from July 1964 to April 1965, were: Mr. Chimen Abramsky, Mr. Morris Sanders, Rabbi Ilisha Rosenfeld, the Rev. Jacob Akiba, Mr. David Acoca and Mr. Moise Assouline, the last three under the supervision of Rabbi Pinchas Toledano.

On June 28, 1965, a Solemn Assembly was held at Westminster Synagogue to mark the completion of the preliminary study of the Scrolls and the beginning of the task of distribution. The Assembly was representative of all sections of the Jewish community, and included also members of the clergy and academics of different faiths. Sir Seymour Karminski, President of the Congregation, presided; Dr. Brodie, then Chief Rabbi, read the memorial prayers; and Dr. Reinhart spoke of the past tragedy and future hope of which the Scrolls were a symbol. A message of good wishes was read from the President of the Prague Jewish community.

From the beginning, the Memorial Scrolls committee has received the encouragement of the Congregation and the leaders of the Anglo-Jewish community: the then Chief Rabbi, Dr. Brodie; the Haman, Dr. Gaon, who gave valued practical help; Dr. Richard Barnett, of the British Museum; and many, many more.

The object of the Memorial Scrolls committee is to distribute the sacred Scrolls throughout the world wherever they can be of most service. The press, both general, led by The New York Times, and Jewish, gave publicity to the arrival of the Scrolls in London; and during the past ten years, hundreds of requests have come from all parts of the world. The committee has decided that priority shall be given to requests from synagogues, and in particular from those in immediate need of Scrolls for use in their services. It is appreciated that many synagogues which already possess sufficient Scrolls for use in worship may wish to receive a Czech Scroll as a memorial to the martyred communities, and the committee hopes that many imperfect Scrolls will serve this sacred purpose. When a request is approved by the committee, a Scroll is handed over on "permanent loan"; and the recipient is asked to make a contribution towards expenses involved.

For the present it is hoped that congregations will make larger contributions in accordance with their means, as indeed quite a number of recipients have already done. For, as the work proceeds with the more seriously damaged Scrolls, the funds which the committee now have in hand will be rapidly depleted; and failing continued generous support, the difficult work of restoring the most damaged Scrolls will be delayed.

Each Scroll bears a brass tablet with a number corresponding to the number on a certificate which describes the origin of the Scroll and any known particulars.

A few Scrolls, not necessarily fit for use in synagogue but appropriate as solemn memorials, have been assigned for display in religious and educational centers, and it is hoped that many future applicants will find these Scrolls appropriate to their needs. One went to Westminster Abbey, where it was a feature in the exhibition arranged by the Council of Christians and Jews in connection with the Cathedral's 900th Anniversary Commemoration; this Scroll is now permanently in the library of the Council of Christians and Jews. Other have gone to the United States Military Academy (West Point), New York; Brandeis University, New York; Northwestern University, Chicago; University of Rochester, New York; Kings College, England; University of Leeds, England; University of Southampton, England; University of Warwick, England; Clifton College, England; University of York, England; and York Cathedral.

The committee continues to receive many requests; and they will not rest until the sacred treasures shall have found their most appropriate homes, to honor the memory of the martyrs and to bring light to future generations.

Westminster Synagogue
Rutland Gardens
London SW7 1BX
Telephone: 01-534-3741

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