For some time, we had been conducting services regularly in Truro. During the reading of the Torah portion, we would use different versions of the Chumash (my copy is the Margolin edition). We did not, however, have our own Torah Scroll and this issue was raised when Sir Sigmund Sternberg came to Cornwall earlier this year. He asked us if we had a Torah scroll for use on Shabbat and we said ,“No… but there is a scroll in Truro Museum.” “You must get hold of it then,” he said. “It is so important for Jews to have a Torah Scroll for services.”
With this as my inspiration, I wrote to the Director of The Royal Institute of Cornwall, Caroline Dudley, to ask if we, as a community, would be able to make use of the Torah Scroll housed in the Museum. Ms Dudley phoned me some time later to say that my request would be put to a meeting of the council for the Museum, which would take place in October.
In the meantime, I arranged with the librarian at the museum to view the Torah Scroll. It was quite something to see the Scroll, which, though in a somewhat dilapidated condition, was still clearly readable. There is, however, considerable damage to both scroll supports – some has been completely eaten away by woodworm. The librarian assured me that this had now been treated and would not deteriorate any further. She also advised me that a Mr Jacobs had given the scroll, together with four or five other smaller scrolls, to the museum in about 1898. There was no documentation available to suggest that a) he had the authority to hand over scrolls which presumably belonged to the then Jewish community, or b) whether he intended the scrolls to be stored in the museum until the Jewish community in Cornwall was reformed. The librarian also informed me that the scrolls had been kept in the appropriate storage for such artefacts, thus enabling their survival into the 21st century. She is certainly very protective of the scrolls and feels that while they are in the museum, they are in safe hands.
She also allowed me to take some photographs of the larger scroll, which I have placed here for viewing.
Following the council meeting, I telephoned Ms Dudley to ask about the decision concerning the scroll. Although I have not yet had anything in writing for the position, as I understand it, we, as a community, may use the scroll for special occasions and services, but due to the present condition of the scroll, it would still have to be kept in the museum. The museum officers are also willing for me to take the scroll to London to see if it can be repaired in some way, without impairing its “historicity”. This is what I intend to do at some point in the future. Keep your eyes on the website to see how this situation develops.
Note:
This article has been moved from the Scrolls & Yad page, and the publication date may be incorrect.