MST Newsletter February 2023

MST Czech Survivor Scroll on display at Crossroads of Civilisation Museum, Dubai, UAE

Dear Friends

Welcome to our 30th newsletter. 

From Prague to Dubai

I am sure that reading this newsletter you will appreciate the emotion and excitement I experienced at the unveiling  of MST Czech Survivor Scroll MST#537 in Dubai. If you were unable to watch the event on the livestream it may be seen

https://themuseum.ae/holocaust2023

I wish to record my very special thanks to H.E. Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori for creating this exhibition on the Holocaust in his Crossroads of Civilisation Museum - 

the first in the Islamic world. His Excellency works tirelessly to improve relations across all religions and as a result of his efforts, Holocaust studies is being added the the curriculum in all schools in the United Arab Emirates.

The highlight of the event was a talk by Gidon Lev, a Holocaust Survivor from Czechoslovakia.

Mr Edwin Shuker, Vice President of the Board of Deputies in London has made the loan allocation possible. I was able to attend Erev and Shabbat services at Minyan on the Palm.My thanks to Ros Kriel and thecommunity for welcoming me. It's not how I expected to celebrate my 83rd birthday, and I was thankful to be surrounded by friends. 

The number 48272 was tattooed on the Etzim (scroll poles) when catalogued in Prague where it had been sent from Svetla Nad Sazavou in Bohemia. This was one of over 200,000 items shipped to Prague and which survived the Shoah.

Reuters publicised the event across the world

Read about us in the London based Jewish News

Jeffrey Ohrenstein,

Chairman

PS We publish many short articles and Czech Scroll Museum visitor pictures on our Facebook page - please click Facebook Like to keep in touch with us.

Tony Yablon z'l

It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the death of Tony Yablon.

A very kind, warm and generous person, Tony was a member of the Memorial Scrolls Trust Committee. His father Ralph Yablon was the philanthropist who made it possible for the 1564 Czech Torah to brought to London in 1964.

Tony will be remembered as a man who dedicated his life to helping others in many different ways. May his memory be a blessing.

Scroll Holder Community Terms

Memorial Scrolls Trust

English Registered Charity Number: 1196488

Conditions of Loan - summary

When a Memorial Torah Scroll is entrusted to a congregation on long term loan, it is on the understanding that the congregation makes a long term commitment to give this Sefer Torah a prominent and meaningful role in the spiritual and educational life of the congregation. This requires the rabbi and the leaders of the congregation to pledge to dedicate one Shabbat every year to the Jews of their Memorial Torah Scroll – the people, their community, their fate and their heritage. Each Scroll is a messenger from a martyred community that depends on its new community to ensure that their heritage is cherished as well as their remembrance as individuals.

1. The Torah Scroll is the property of the Memorial Scrolls Trust.

2. The Torah Scroll is issued exclusively to a designated congregation or institution (“the Recipient”) on long term loan.

3. The Recipient will pay to the Trust an initial donation of $5000

4. New Recipients shall make an annual donation to the Trust of $360. 

5. The Recipients website should have a page or an article about their Czech Torah and its history, as well as the Memorial Scrolls Trust and the Czech Scrolls Museum. The website should also have a link to the MST website www.memorialscrollstrust.org 

6. Recipients who are synagogues, shall have an annual commemorative service dedicated to the Jews of the Memorial Scroll town. 

7. The Recipient must provide the Trust with a written report a minimum of once every 5 years. This will give an update of the physical condition of the scroll and share highlights of the role it plays in the community.

8. The Torah Scroll may not be transferred to any other organisation, and must be returned to the Trust in the event of the closure or merger of the designated organisation.

9. Where a Torah Scroll has been loaned to a museum, it should be placed on display. If it is kept in storage for a period of more than 2 months, it should be returned to the Trust.

10. The Recipient is responsible for the safekeeping of the Scroll, and for its condition.

11. The Recipient must arrange and pay for any repairs or restoration that may be necessary while the Scroll is in their care.

12. Before any repair or restoration work may be undertaken on the Scroll, advance notice must be given and permission needs to be granted by the Trust. The specified work must be undertaken only by or under the close supervision of a nominated certified scribe approved by the Trust.

13. Where the Etz Chayim are replaced, the MST brass plaque with the Scroll’s identification number must be preserved and reaffixed

14. Under no circumstances whatsoever may the Torah Scroll be buried. 

15. The certificate of origin that comes with the Torah Scroll must be framed and displayed in a prominent position near the Scroll. If the certificate cannot be found, then the Recipient must contact the Trust to arrange and pay for a replacement.

16. The Recipient must maintain adequate insurance against normal risks, and the Trust’s ownership of the Torah Scroll must be endorsed on the insurance policy. Each Torah Scroll to be insured for $25,000.

17. The Torah Scroll may not be unrolled in its entirety for any reason except that which pertains to its upkeep.

UK £ Sterling Bank Account

Sort Code 60-04-04 Account 86880594

IBAN GB28NWBK60040486880594 BIC: NWBKGB2L

USD $ Bank Account

Sort code 60-04-04 Currency 140 Type 00 Account 87579650 [140/00/87579650]

IBAN. GB22NWBK60730187579650. BIC: NWBKGB2L