Torah triumph! Wiener Holocaust library raises £2k for historic restoration

A Sefer Torah confiscated by the Nazis and stored in a Prague warehouse can now be restored thanks to the generosity of public donors.

London’s Wiener Holocaust Library launched an urgent £2k crowdfunding campaign in August to restore a Torah scroll which survived the Holocaust.

Just weeks later, 20 donors had managed to raise £1,104, a figure then matched by the Benson and Lionel Black Trust.

Speaking exclusively to Jewish News, Wiener Holocaust Library head of collections, Dr Stefanie Rauch said: “We’re delighted to have received so many generous donations towards our crowdfunding campaign to undertake this vital conservation work.

“Our archive is a unique collection of objects and documents, some of which date from the 18th century and are incredibly fragile. Without preservation work, which can be highly specialist and often very expensive, these objects simply won’t be there for the next generation.

“Our team of archivists works hard to ensure our collection endures so it can be put at the service of research, education and outreach, and we’re so pleased so many members of the public have supported this mission with their donations. The Torah Scroll will now be restored by specialist conservators so it can remain on display in our Reading Room for many years to come.”

As reported by Jewish News, following Hitler’s annexation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939, Jewish communities in Czech lands had precious objects from their synagogues, including Torah Scrolls, confiscated by the Nazi authorities, and placed in 40 warehouses in Prague.