I Am a Holocaust Torah: The Story of 1,564 Torahs Stolen by Nazis

By Alex J. Goldman and Rabbi Alex J Goldman

The story of I am a Holocaust Torah begins in Czechoslovakia over 50 years ago. The Nazis storm through Moravia, Bohemia and Slovakia like a tornado, destroying synagogues and lives in their path. In the process, among the items they took are Torah scrolls and adornments such as mantles, crowns and breastplates. These are taken to Prague, the country s capital.


By the end of the Second World War, 1,564 Czech Torahs had been stolen by the Nazis and lay forgotten in Prague. Twenty years later, the scrolls were negotiated with the Czech authorities and transferred to the Westminster Synagogue in London, where some of them re displayed to this day.

I am a Holocaust Torah is the historic and dramatic story of the 1,564 Torahs through the mind, heart and words of one of the Torahs itself.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9652292362
• ISBN13: 9789652292360
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Gefen Books
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.6" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 7 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 5

Customer Reviews

I Am A Holocaust Torah

A short but moving story about the journey of a Torah from its creation several hundred years ago, through WW II and the Holocaust, to its ultimate rescue and restoration. Written as if the Torah were telling the story, this book succeeds in making an emotional connection with the reader. Recommended for young adults.

A necessity for school libraries.

This is a wonderful book that describes how the Holocaust torahs become part of today's religious world. Difficult for young children but the story is poetic. My Congregation just celebrated the 36th anniversary of our Holocaust Torah that is on permanent loan. This book was put in the library in honor of our founding and first president for bringing the torah to us. We all can learn a little humaity from this book.