£2,000 reward offered in urgent appeal to recover stolen Torah scrolls from shul
Salford community launches reward after theft of century-old Sifrei Torah, fearing damage and urging safe return
An urgent appeal has been launched for the return of two Torah scrolls stolen from a synagogue in Salford, with the local Jewish community offering a £2,000 reward for their safe recovery.
The Sifrei Torah were taken from Beis HaMedrash Torah Etz Chaim, on Bury New Road, during a break-in in the early hours of last Friday, when intruders removed a heavy safe containing the scrolls.
CCTV footage shows three men in high-visibility clothing entering the building with a trolley before leaving with the safe, which they loaded into a van. The entire operation lasted around 30 minutes.
A synagogue committee member told the Manchester Evening News that the thieves appeared to act with intent, heading directly to the upstairs prayer area where the safe was stored.
“It looks like they knew where they were going. They went upstairs into the synagogue. They took away our safe, which is very, very heavy.”
The scrolls are believed to be up to 100 years old and are described by congregants as irreplaceable.
“There’s no value for the public, but for us it’s very sentimental,” the member said. “It’s very devastating news, and it’s really difficult on us.”
They added that the community’s priority is the safe return of the scrolls, amid concern they could be handled improperly.
“For us, it’s more important to get them back than to find out who took it.”
Greater Manchester Police said officers are aware of the incident and enquiries are ongoing, with no arrests made at this stage.
A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust said: “Torah scrolls are holy and much cherished, and their loss will be extremely upsetting for the Jewish community. We urge anyone with any information to assist in their return by contacting the police or CST.”
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