Santa Barbara Hillel's Holocaust Torah Scroll

 

Santa Barbara Hillel is honored to house a Czech Torah Scroll, MST #105, as part of the Memorial Scrolls Trust. This scroll, written in the 19th century, is one of 1600 that were saved from destruction at the hands of the Nazis during their occupation of Czechoslovakia. 

The scroll's original community was in the town of Nachod. Nachod is located in Bohemia near the Czech border with Poland. During the interwar period, and between the end of WWII and 1993, it was part of the Republic of Czechoslovakia. The Jewish community of Nachod was one of the four oldest in Bohemia.

Two hundred and twenty one Jews were recorded as living in the town of Nachod before the majority were deported to Terezin in December 1942. From there many were sent to Auschwitz.

There were 117 women, 104 men and 35 children between the ages of 5 and 25 years. While we cannot know all the details of their lives, we know their names and can keep their memory alive. As we hold their sacred scroll, and share their stories with our community and beyond, we remember them. 

For more information about the Memorial Scrolls Trust visit: http://www.memorialscrollstrust.org/