MST Newsletter August 2023

Our newly published history of the Czech Memorial Scrolls

Dear Friends

Welcome to our 31st newsletter. 

From Bohemia and Moravia to you

We estimate that a million people hear Torah read from a Czech Memorial Scroll every year. In the late 1960's, the President of the Czech Jewish community wrote to us to say

We shall be glad if the Sifre Torah, which after the Holocaust of Czech Jewry were of no more of use to our few surviving communities, (are sent) wherever they are needed.

You can read the history of the Czech Memorial Scrolls in our new book "1564 Scrolls A legacy of Jewish Life in Bohemia and Moravia" which we will start to ship out in September, before the Haggim.

Our thanks to MST Archivist Miles Laddie for the many months of work he put into researching and writing the story of the Czech Jewish community, of the Scrolls during the Shoah, and of the scrolls sitting unused in the Michle Synagogue in Prague. On 5th February 1964, the scrolls started arriving at Kent House in London, to be examined, restored to kosher if possible, and sent on to your community.

The first Scroll Gathering

In summer 1965, at a cross community service at Westminster Synagogue, Chief Rabbi Dr Israel Brodie led the saying of kaddish for those who had died in the Shoah. 

We encourage your community to carry on the tradition of a Scroll gathering event, in partnership with your regional scroll holder communities. We are delighted to list some of the Scroll Gatherings which are happening across the world to mark the 60th anniversary.

The MST Czech Memorial Scrolls museum

Our volunteer tour guides have been welcoming many visitors to our Museum for a 90 minute guided talk and tour. Please book your visit well in a advance at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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.

B'nei Mitzvah 10 pack

Many scroll holder communities ensure their B'nei Mitzvah read from their Czech Memorial Scroll. We hope that Scroll Holder Communities can take advantage of our offer to purchase the ten pack of our newly published book 1564 Scrolls a Legacy of Jewish Life in Bohemia and Moravia to offer as a gift to your B'nei Mitzvah children.

A single book is offered at £17.50 plus postage for 150 pages, full colour, hardback. We are offering a ten pack at £100 plus postage, a discount of £75. 

We expect to be able to ship to you during the second week of September.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis

We offer our congratulations to Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis on his being awarded a knighthood. Chief Rabbi Mirvis stood in front of King Charles III on 11th July to receive his KBE, with his family present. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis has been a significant supporter of MST, in the tradition of his predecessors Chief Rabbi Dr Israel Brodie and Chief Rabbi Lord Immanuel Jakobovits.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis honoured MST with his message for our newly published book.

In 1965, we started the tradition of the MST Scroll Gathering at Westminster Synagogue, London UK. This Jewish service can take many forms, and is expected to be cross community, bringing multiple Scroll Holder Communities together across a region. 

The following are special scroll gatherings being organised to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Memorial Scrolls arriving in London.

9 November October 2023 Philadelphia NY, USA - Rodeth Shalom

Congregation Rodeth Shalom will host an MST Czech Memorial Scroll Gathering on 9 November, 2023.

11 November 2023 Palm Beach FL, USA - Temple Emanu-El

Temple Emanu-El, Palm Beach, will host an MST Czech Memorial Scroll Gathering on 11 November 2023, marking their own 60th Anniversary.

4 February 2024 London, UK - Westminster Synagogue

MST's home synagogue, Westminster Synagogue, London, will host the 60th anniversary Scroll Gathering on Sunday 4th February 2024, to mark the arrival of the Czech Scrolls at Kent House on 5th February 1964.

25 February 2024 Phoenix, AZ - The Arizona Jewish Historical Society

The Arizona Jewish Historical Society will host an MST Czech Scroll Gathering on 25 February 2024, repeating its successful Czech Memorial Scroll Gathering of 2015.

9 March 2024 Buenos Ares - Communidad Beit Israel

Communidad Beit Israel will host an MST Czech Scroll Gathering service on 9 March 2024.

7 April 2024 New York, NY - Temple Emanu-El

Temple Emanu-El will repeat its successful Czech Memorial Scroll Gathering of 2019 on 7 April 2024.

3 November 2024 Wayne, NJ - Temple Beth Tikvah

Temple Beth Tikvah and the Gross Center at Ramapo College will host an MST Czech Memorial Scroll Gathering on 3 November, 2024.

10 November 2024 Sarasota, FL - Jewish Federation

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota Manatee will host a Czech Memorial Scroll Gathering on 10 November 2024.

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