Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue

Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue is privileged to use one of 1500 “rescued” Czech Torah Scrolls. After the defeat of the Nazis, the scrolls were stored in an old synagogue in Prague and in 1964, the scrolls were taken to Westminster Synagogue and loaned to progressive synagogues in Britain and Unites States.

The scroll plays a central role in our community. It is a precious heritage through which we honour the memory of so many vanished communities and lives.

The history of our Chay scroll and its role in our community

The Nazis destroyed Jewish communities, Jewish books and Torah scrolls and Jewish lives.  Nevertheless in 1962 (?) 1,564 scrolls were discovered inside a disused synagogue in Prague that had been collected from across Czechoslovakia.

The discovery made, Rabbi Harold Rheinhardt of the Westminster Synagogue in London, having learned about the ‘find’ took it upon himself to bring all the scrolls to Westminister for repair.  They arrived in lorry-loads, most were repaired by a skilled sofer (‘scribe’), and they were later distributed on loan to progressive congregations throughout Britain – some finding their way to the United States.

Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue received our scroll – no. 1278  in 1977  It came from Frydek-Mistek in Rumania, from one of the thousands of Jewish communities destroyed by the Nazis during the Sho’ah.  Most of the Jewish inhabitants of Frydek-Mistek, being deported by the Nazis to death camps – mostly Treblinka – between September 18^th and September 30^th 1942.

In 2004 Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah and three members of the synagogue – Aubrey Milstein – zichrono livrachah – may his memory be for blessing, Hans Levy and Steve Field travelled to Westminster Synagogue, together with our Czech scroll,  to attend a conference marking the 40^th anniversary of the Czech scrolls arriving there.

Inspired by the conference, they returned home, determined to re-connect the congregation with their scroll, and set about organising an event to re-dedicate our Czech scroll, which we named the Chay scroll, because the individual components of the number it was given  - 1278 – add up to 18 – which in Hebrew letters spells Chay – ‘Life’.

Following the re-dedication of our Chay scroll, which included reading the document we received when it was committed to our care, we have devised a variety of ways to ensure that our Chay Scroll plays an active part in the life of our congregation and is remembered and cherished – these include:

• A special Chay Scroll Anniversary service held on Shabbat Shuvah – the Sabbath of Repentance between Rosh Ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur – to coincide with the time when the Jews of Fydek-Mistek were deported.  The Anniversary service includes ‘calling up’ eight people, one for each decade (from 13 onwards) to the reading of the Torah, each aliyah in memory of an individual from Frydek-Mistek of the same age-group.
• The creation of a special High Holy Day Torah mantle for the Chay Scroll – the work of member, Anneloes ter Horst
• Reading from the Chay Scroll during the High Holy Days
• Reading the Chay scroll every Shabbat during the Omer period between Pesach and Shavuot – traditionally a time of mourning
• The reading of the Sh’ma from the Chay Scroll during the annual Yom Ha-Sho’ah service and remembering the community of Frydek-Mistek in our prayers