Rozwadow Torah Restoration

Rozwadow Still Lives Today

Four decades ago, The Benei Moshe Horowicz Chevra of New York, a New York based organization of landsmen from Rozwadow donated a Torah to Israel. It was their intention that the flame of Rozwadow continue to burn in the land of Israel. The Israeli Religious Ministry in turn presented the Torah shown above to the Ohel R' Yosef Synagogue in Afula, Israel where it remains today.

Is this Torah from Rozwadow?

Currently, the Baal-Koreh of the Ohel R' Yosef Synagogue, Mr. Israel Halperin believes so. Observing how the Torah suffered the effects of the passing years, Mr. Halperin sought the help of The Benei Moshe Horowicz Chevra of the USA, only to learn that the Chevra has vanished like the shtetl itself. This is the same Chevra that published the Rozwadow Yizkor along with The Irgun Yotzley Rozwadow Chevra in Israel and The Rozwadower Association of Belgium. He eventually contacted me as the Rozwadow shtetl leader of Jewishgen's shtetlink organization, the Kolbuszowo Region Research Group. The Torah has aged and can no longer be read in services until it is re-koshered. The beginning of this process is underway and has been examined by a sofer from Haifa, who is highly experienced with old and ancient torah. It is hoped that the Sofer may be able to comment on its origin. In either case the Torah was a seed from the tree that was Rozwadow.

Re-koshering the Torah

The Sofer has reported that the Torah has letters that are split and crumbled. There are rips in the papyrus as well as problems with the sewing between some of the sheets.
The Synagogue unfortunately does not have the 41,500 N.I.S (about $9200) to repair and check the Torah. They have asked for our help! If you would like to be part of this restoration, please consider sending donations by check to "The Ohel R' Yosef Synagogue-Rozwadow Torah Fund" at the following address:

"Ohel R' Yosef" Synagogue Batzir 3 st., Shikun Ovdim Afula Israel 18314

In his introductory remarks to the Rozwadow Yizkor, Mr. Adolph Ausubel, the late President of The Benei Moshe Horowicz Chevra concluded with the following:

It requires DEEDS, deeds by all of us who go forward in the purpose to invigorate and revitalize our organization. Surely, This is A Task Worthy of Us All.

A Wise Donation

Giving Wisely, The English directory of nonprofit organizations in Israel, lists the Ohel R' Yosef Synagogue, Amuta 58-043299-5. It specifies repairing the Torah scrolls as one of congregation's goals.

See Photos of the Synagogue

For more information contact me or Mr. Halperin:

Peter Dreifuss petedr@aol.com Israel Halperin i_halp@012.net.il

 

New Photos of Rozwadow

I have come into possession of old photos of Rozwadow, not previously available. Two are shown here:

Rubble of Destroyed Synagogue

Town Center

 

 

Copyright August 25, 2005

Peter Dreifuss
Burtonsville, MD USA