The Torah
A Sefer Torah, a powerful symbol and moving presence in Jewish worship and community life, was presented to VCU Libraries by an alumni couple with deep connections to the university, it will be held and safeguarded by the VCU Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives. The Torah survived the Holocaust.
Donors Martin L. Johnson, MD, and Olinda Young, have ties to both MCV and Monroe Park campuses. Johnson did his residency (house staff, plastic surgery, 1980) at MCV, and Young holds dual degrees, a bachelor’s of science in education (1975) and a master’s in public administration (1981).
The Sefer Torah scroll, on parchment scribed in the customary Hebrew, was composed in Romania around 1750. During World War II, it was confiscated by the Nazis. It is believed to be from an area of Transnistria, known as the Romanian Auschwitz. Registration numbers and stamps confirm its provenance and also that the scroll was held by the Communists. It was repatriated to Israel in 2003. Israeli authorities released the scroll for private ownership. It is considered to be in excellent condition, according to the rare books and manuscripts appraiser who authenticated the artifact.
Acquired 2014
Photograph by Amber Taber
www.library.vcu.edu/about/news/2014/alumni-couple-gives-t...
The Torah
A Sefer Torah, a powerful symbol and moving presence in Jewish worship and community life, was presented to VCU Libraries by an alumni couple with deep connections to the university, it will be held and safeguarded by the VCU Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives. The Torah survived the Holocaust.
Donors Martin L. Johnson, MD, and Olinda Young, have ties to both MCV and Monroe Park campuses. Johnson did his residency (house staff, plastic surgery, 1980) at MCV, and Young holds dual degrees, a bachelor’s of science in education (1975) and a master’s in public administration (1981).
The Sefer Torah scroll, on parchment scribed in the customary Hebrew, was composed in Romania around 1750. During World War II, it was confiscated by the Nazis. It is believed to be from an area of Transnistria, known as the Romanian Auschwitz. Registration numbers and stamps confirm its provenance and also that the scroll was held by the Communists. It was repatriated to Israel in 2003. Israeli authorities released the scroll for private ownership. It is considered to be in excellent condition, according to the rare books and manuscripts appraiser who authenticated the artifact.
Acquired 2014
Photograph by Amber Taber
www.library.vcu.edu/about/news/2014/alumni-couple-gives-t...