Czech Memorial Scrolls
We are honored that two of our Torahs, MST#1364 Libochovice and MST#1459 Praha-Strasnice, are certified as being among the 1,564 Czech Memorial Sifre Torahs that "formed part of the treasures which were saved by being collected in Prague during the Nazi occupation 1939-1945 from the desolated Jewish communities of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia, and which then came under the control of the Czechoslovak Government for many years." These scrolls "were acquired, with the help of good friends, from Artia (the Czechoslovak State Cultural Agency) for Westminster Synagogue, where they arrived on the 7th February 1964."
"Some of the collection remain at Westminster Synagogue, a permanent memorial to the martyrs from whose synagogues they come; many of them are distributed throughout the world, to be memorials everywhere to the Jewish tragedy, and to spread light as harbingers of future brotherhood on earth; and all of them bear witness to the glory of the holy Name."
Quotes were pulled directly from the official certificate distributed by the Memorial Scrolls Trust. The scrolls came from Prasha-Strasnice and Libochovice, and were written at the end of the 19th century.
For additional information, please access the Memorial Scrolls Trust website.
"Some of the collection remain at Westminster Synagogue, a permanent memorial to the martyrs from whose synagogues they come; many of them are distributed throughout the world, to be memorials everywhere to the Jewish tragedy, and to spread light as harbingers of future brotherhood on earth; and all of them bear witness to the glory of the holy Name."
Quotes were pulled directly from the official certificate distributed by the Memorial Scrolls Trust. The scrolls came from Prasha-Strasnice and Libochovice, and were written at the end of the 19th century.
For additional information, please access the Memorial Scrolls Trust website.
Read More about the Community Libochovice Torah (MST #1364)
The Jewish population in Libochovice
Libochovice is located in the north of Bohemia in the region of Litomerice not far from the concentration camp of Theresienstadt which is in the same district. According to some sources the Jewish settlement in Libochovice dated from about 1463. Other sources claim the majority of Jews moved there in 1583 from the nearby village of Radovesice. The fact is the town of Lobochovice in 1583 sold a piece of fallow land to the "Jews living in Libochovice at present and in the future to bury their dead". The oldest existing gravestone is from 1588 and others are from the early 17th century. In 1654, there were 12 Jews living in Libochovice and in 1717 the number rose to 85. In 1846, 37 Jewish families totaling 261 persons lived in the town, which amounted to 17.5% of the population.
The jewish community in Libochovice
In the 17th century the Jews in Libochovice were craftsmen, working hard to make a meager living for their families. They were tailors, butchers, soapmakers, glazers etc. Shortly after, some started to trade. First, there were peddlers and then they started to establish successful businesses. In 1856, there were 18 Jewish businesses and 15 Christian ones in Libochovice.
The Jews of Libochovice were mostly Orthodox and were typically against any religious reforms. They believed in the traditional form of the service and the preservation of the old customs. Their first synagogue was a wooden structure and later was replaced by a stone one. Sadly, in 1809, a fire destroyed the synagogue. Much later, in 1835 a new one was built with the help of the authorities. The furnishings were exquisite with large and ornate chandelier, antique candlesticks, silver ornaments, gorgeous torah mantles, and Sifrei Torah including one donated in 1850 by Abraham Lederer that was especially well written and outstanding in beauty.
The Jews of Libochovice were mostly Orthodox and were typically against any religious reforms. They believed in the traditional form of the service and the preservation of the old customs. Their first synagogue was a wooden structure and later was replaced by a stone one. Sadly, in 1809, a fire destroyed the synagogue. Much later, in 1835 a new one was built with the help of the authorities. The furnishings were exquisite with large and ornate chandelier, antique candlesticks, silver ornaments, gorgeous torah mantles, and Sifrei Torah including one donated in 1850 by Abraham Lederer that was especially well written and outstanding in beauty.
Libochovice JewIsh community Before the Holocaust
Similar to other Jewish communities in Bohemia and Moravia, there was Jewish education in Libochovice which started when Jewish people first settled there. The first records of the town's Jewish education was in the town's record in 1726. This education continued up until 1820 when a Cheder was started, and then, Jewish teachers went to the homes to instruct the children in Hebrew and the Talmud. Following legislation from the Emperor Franz Joseph ll, Jewish children started going to the public schools, where the primary language was Czech. From 1827 to 1898, there was also a Jewish private school, and as a result the children were educated in Czech, German and Hebrew. A Chevra Kadisha (organization to arrange funerals) was set up in 1650 and in 1850 there was a Jubilee celebrated in honor of the 200 years of service. Over the years, many other Jewish institutions also existed. The prosperous and ancient community of Libochovice fell victim to Nazi decimation and whoever could not escape were sent to concentration and extermination camps, with the community ceasing to exist in 1940.
