Angela Merkel puts finishing touches on scroll that survived Kristallnacht
German chancellor helped complete the refurbishment of the The Sulzbacher Torah
German Chancellor Angela Merkel came to see the finishing touches put to the government-funded refurbishment of the 18th century Sulzbacher Torah in the capital Berlin last week.
The Sulzbacher Torah survived the Kristallnacht pogrom in 1938 and lay unnoticed for decades in a cabinet in a synagogue in Amberg, Bavaria, until 2015, sparking the process to bring it back to a ritually usable
condition.
The German government contributed £40,000 to the restoration for it to be used once again for services in the Amberg synagogue, and Merkel watched as Rabbi Shaul Nekrich inscribed the final 12 letters of the scroll.
The chancellor, who steps down following elections in September, has been a consistent champion of Germany’s Jewish community and an ardent ally of Israel.
She heard how the Torah was written for the synagogue in Sulzbach, Bavaria, before it was moved to Amberg in 1934, one year after Hitler took power.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
