2 Pre-World War II Polish Torah Scrolls Restored

By JTA March 5, 2015

The Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland will save two pre-World War II Torah scrolls using a grant received from the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland.

The Torah scrolls are originally from Zamosc and Zwierzyniec. After restoration the Zamosc scroll will be exhibited in a display case in the Zamosc Synagogue. The Zwierzyniec scroll will be displayed in the synagogue building in Leczna, where the foundation plans to establish a Jewish museum. The Zamosc scroll is unique because it contains a distinctive way of writing the Hebrew letter “peh.”, which probably can quite accurately determine the location of origin and date of creation.

The renovation will be carried out at the National Library in Warsaw and the Department of Paper and Leather Restoration of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun at a cost of approximately $6,600.

“We are very grateful for the support of the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland. We believe that such items should be carefully preserved and made available to a wider audience, because of their educational value,” said Monika Krawczyk, director of the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland, adding, “We urge all holders of such [historic objects] to forward them to our foundation or the nearest Jewish community. They should not be traded or export abroad,”

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