For Czech Scroll #845 from Pardubice, the ride to UHC marked the last (best) leg of its journey

By Scott Skillman

The story of the Memorial Scrolls Trust and its mission to preserve the Torah scrolls of Czechoslovakia, rescued after the systematic destruction of the Jewish communities, is well-documented.

The Torahs were consolidated to Prague during the Nazi occupation. After the war, during the Communist occupation, the scrolls were placed in storage in the ruins of the Michle Synagogue basement.

Due to good record-keeping, we know many scrolls were saved from Pardubice. Four of those scrolls have been leased out to Jewish congregations around the world.

At present, one scroll resides in Cambridge England (#689), one in Tampa, Fla. (#1169), one in Glencoe, Ill. (#229), and the last with United Hebrew Congregation in Terre Haute, Indiana.

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Rabbi Joe Klein held the Czech Scroll as a symbol of Jewish survival and persistence

Three years after its arrival in Terre Haute, the Czech memorial scroll identified as MST #845 helped bridge the generations during a confirmation ceremony in the UHC sanctuary.

As students Ellie Klein, Rachel Seidenberg, David Halpern and Dan Atkins stood by, Rabbi Joseph Klein held the historic scroll from Pardubice and described its significance.

He began, “The Torah scroll that tonight’s Torah portion from Exodus will be read from is a special scroll to our congregation, in the life of our congregation.”

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High Holidays 5782 schedule to begin with Erev Rosh Hashanah services Monday, September 6

Student Rabbi Matt Derrenbacher will officiate High Holidays services in the sanctuary at United Hebrew Congregation for the New Year 5782, beginning with Erev Rosh Hashanah services at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6.

All attendees must wear masks and practice social distancing between families or pods. One person or family may use the restroom at one time. Please stay home if ill with any respiratory or gastrointestinal issues. In-person attendance schedule subject to change, according to Vigo County COVID prevalence.

Members may also attend via Zoom conference. To request an invite, contact Betsy Frank, send a Facebook message or use our contact form.

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Dr. Renate Justin surmounts tragedy to share her story In ‘What I Have To Tell: A Memoir’

By Scott Skillman

From time to time, the Temple receives unsolicited books for review, consideration or for no reason at all. One such book, What I Have to Tell: A Memoir by Renate G. Justin, M.D. (Crystal Publishing, Fort Collins, CO, 2019), caught my eye, as it was credited to a former member of the Terre Haute Jewish community.

In 163 pages, we are informed of a world of pain and how one person chose to rise above it. Our narrator makes clear a person can rise above her circumstances, but that does not necessarily mean she can escape them.

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