Every Torah scroll in existence contains exactly the same text, written on parchment by scribes trained for years in the art of bringing the words of the teaching to light. Each scroll is sacred, none more so than those scrolls which come to us from the communities decimated by the Shoah, the Holocaust. These scrolls, which bore witness to some of the darkest hours of Jewish and human history, are preserved intact as a symbol of perseverance, hope, and the promise of renewal and continuity. For the Jewish people, a scroll with this history carries great significance.

In May 2011, B'nai Israel Synagogue-Dan Abraham Jewish Cultural Center of Rochester, MN became the caregiver congregation for one of those scrolls. This particular scroll was written about 350 years ago in Kolin, a small town in the present Czech Republic. It served generations of Jewish congregants, and miraculously survived the Holocaust even though its congregation did not.

Our community undertook the restoration of this Torah scroll. Each letter and each stitch was examined, revitalized, and restored by Rabbi Gedaliah Druin of Sofer.  His old hands working in perfect concert with the antiquity of the text and the history of the parchment reflect the light that still shines through as scribe, word, and artifact become one. Old scrollA 300 years old Torah scroll open to be restored to its old glory. Sacred workRestoring the physical condition of a Torah Scroll requires immense patience and skill. RepairingOld hands repairing a 300 year old Torah scroll, letter by letter. Long scrollA Torah scroll is open to its all length to be repaired and brought back to its old glory. Each word and letter is being looked at and repaired if needed. An incredible delicate and detailed task. Manual restorationIn order to be used in a regular service, all its letter and pieces have to be perfect. Writing a Torah Scroll and fixing it is an amazing work of art. Light rayA light ray illuminates across the back wall of B'nai Israel Synagogue in Rochester, MN. Words of lightThe Scroll is made of animal skin, so the black ink doesn't penetrate the skin, but sits on top of it. With the right illumination, the black letters and words reflect the light, appearing in white or silver.