April 25, 2014

Page 1

Volume XX, Issue XXIX  |  www.thejewishvoice.org Serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts

25 Nisan 5774 | April 25, 2014

SPRING CELEBRATIONS

JDC takes you behind the headlines of the crisis in Ukraine BY OFER GLANZ

In order to maintain proper form, the scrolls must be rolled on a regular basis. Since that’s not easy to do with more than 1,500 Torahs, something had to be invented to save them from decay. Chimen Abramsky, a historian and an expert on Judaica who examined the Torahs, burst into tears upon seeing the dying scrolls – ones lacking protective covering, wrapped in ripped shawls and tied with children’s belts. In 1963, Ralph C. Yablon purchased the 1,564 scrolls and arranged to transport them to London, where the Westminster Synagogue became the official trustee for the collection.

As we have all witnessed in the past two weeks, following the annexation of the Crimea, pro-Russian protests and activities has intensified in the eastern parts of Ukraine. Pro-Russian activists stormed and captured district and municipal administration buildings and state security offices. The Jewish population is also concerned by increasing number of incidents which have anti-Semitic language and appearance, where some of the incidents are bringing back the memories of past times of terror and persecution. In Donetsk, an official-looking document was circulated, calling on Jews to register with the Nationalities Commissioner and pay $50 or lose their citizenship and face deportation. We have talked with people in Donetsk who confirmed receiving this pamphlet, which was distributed by four people outside of the synagogue. The leaflets were handed to the Jews going out of the synagogue after the service. The Donetsk rabbi has also confirmed it. The SBU [Security Service of Ukraine] was informed about this incident and they told the community not to take this seriously. However, in the state of general disorder in the region, the police also said they cannot do anything to prevent it. Quite a few members of the community believe it is a provocation aimed at

SCROLLS | 14

UKRAINE | 15

COURTESY OF HERCRI

The Torah scroll at the Holocaust Education and Resource Center of R.I., donated by Dr. Richard and Lynn Glick honors the Czech victims who saved it but lost their lives.

The Czech Torah scrolls Boston temple members honor the memory of Holocaust victims BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org During World War II, the Nazis permitted Prague’s Jews to sort, classify and catalog the Jewish Museum’s Torah scrolls, which were part of a collection that contained numerous ceremonial objects. Sadly, before they could fi nish the task, the Jews were deported to death camps, where all but two died. Unlike the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, the Torah scrolls survived. Moved from the (renamed) State Jewish Museum to Michele Synagogue, they remained there in danger of perishing akin to their prior caretakers.

PHOTOS | JDC

The Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) ensures the well-being of vulnerable Jews in Ukraine.

1065 Wordens Pond Road Wakefield, RI 02879 (401) 463-3170 WWW.CAMPJORI.COM


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