The original Torah of the TJC came from the Pinkas synagogue in Prague in 1983. This Torah is one of 1,564 that survived the Holocaust, and was one of over 200,000 Jewish artifacts shipped to the Jewish Museum in Prague from the destroyed communities of Bohemia and Moravia. In 1964, it was again saved from destruction under the communist regime and brought by Ralph Yablon to the Westminster Synagogue in London, where it was catalogued as MST#595. The Memorial Scrolls Trust was set up as an independent charity to care for these Torahs and they have allocated 1,400 of them to communities around the world.

After its arrival in Taos, the scroll was used actively for weekly services, High Holidays, B’Nai Mitzvot, teaching and other occasions. The scroll has a mantle from Jerusalem and a portable Ark of cedarwood (so it can wander in the desert of Northern New Mexico!)

In 2014, the scroll needed repairs, as some parts of the klaf (cowhide) had become wrinkled and some letters were damaged. The first to examine the scroll, Rabbi Moshe Gruin, noticed an old puncture wound that had been sewn up. He speculated that it came from a dagger or bayonet - Perhaps the congregation had the scroll out when the Nazis came and they stabbed it.

We sought out a Sofer and the scroll was examined by Rabbi Kevin Hale, who specializes in scroll writing and repair, in the restored Temple Israel in Leadville, Colorado. We discovered that the scroll was older than we believed, dating to about 1770 and written in a Kabbalistic script! With the scroll whole again, Rabbi Hale suggested that we semi-retire it due to age and fragility.

A search for a newer (used but fully functional) Torah scroll began. A beautiful 50-year-old scroll, written in Israel, was found in Los Angeles by Sofer Ron Sieger, a friend of Rabbi Paul Citrin. The scroll arrived just in time for the High Holidays and received a new mantel embroidered in Jerusalem. It is what is known as a “Vav” scroll, arranged so that every column begins with “Vav.” Finally, we have a small travel Torah. It is a great joy for our community to have these beautiful scrolls.