How a Torah scroll escaped Nazi Germany and found a home on Israel's Gaza border

A Torah scroll, penned in Germany almost 150 years ago, has been dedicated at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, located on Israel's Gaza border. This significant artifact marks a new beginning for the kibbutz, which is establishing its first Beit Tefila, or house of prayer, a novel concept for a community that has existed for 70 years without a synagogue.

The Torah scroll's journey is a testament to resilience and preservation. It was brought from Nazi Germany to America by a family before the Holocaust. After decades, it was rediscovered and donated to a synagogue in New York City. Recently, it was transported to Israel for restoration and has now been entrusted to Kibbutz Nahal Oz for its new prayer house.

The dedication ceremony for the scroll took place shortly before the kibbutz celebrated its first Shavuot holiday at home since October 7, 2023. The community, which includes founders and recent babies, gathered for traditional celebrations, with over 100 participants singing and dancing. The return of residents to their homes and the establishment of a new prayer space symbolize a renewed sense of community and continuity.

The scroll's origins trace back to the town of Eich in southern Germany, a region historically significant to Ashkenazi Jewry and connected to the great Jewish scholar Rashi. The synagogue there, known as the Rashi Shul, served both Eich and the adjacent town of Hamm. Historical accounts indicate a period of amicable relations between Jewish and non-Jewish residents, with the local municipality contributing to the synagogue's construction and non-Jews participating in memorial events for Jewish soldiers.