[CPProt.net] Jewish Community Buries Holy Books in Wake of Synagogue Fire

[Museum Security Network / Cultural Property Protection Net (Ton Cremers)]

Jewish Community Buries Holy Books in Wake of Synagogue Fire
Monday, May 16 2005

 
MALAKHOVKA, Russia - On May 15th, the Jewish cemetery of Malakhovka hosted a
ceremony for burying the remains of the holy texts destroyed in the fire
that destroyed the city's Synagogue last week. Unfortunately, the Torah
scroll used by the local community was also lost to the blaze. Jewish
tradition stipulates that the remains of sacred texts be disposed of with
care, so that when a prayer book or Torah scroll is damaged or destroyed, it
can't be thrown away - it must be buried. 

This commemorative event involved Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar,
officials from the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, leaders of
the Malakhovka Jewish Community, and officials from the City Administration
and the Moscow Regional Administration. 

"What has happened is a great tragedy for Jews," stated Rabbi Lazar. "We had
hoped that such crimes were a thing of the past. When we found this burnt
scroll, it was a very heavy moment; heavy because nobody thought that anyone
in Russia would be capable of committing such a crime against G-d". He also
expressed regret that the tragedy struck so soon after the 60th anniversary
of the victory over Nazism. 

The Jewish community was shocked by this incident. Malakhovka is home to
many people of different nationalities and religions, with a history of
living in peace with one another. Over the past two years, Rabbi Moshe
Tamarin and Chairman Mikhail Glimcher have noticeably advanced Jewish life
in the city. "We are convinced that this tragedy will not fracture the
Malakhovka Jewish community, but rather unite it. Today is not just a day of
mourning, but the start of a new ascent in the community's development." 

Rabbi Lazar also expressed his gratitude to the City Administration for
their moral support and to law enforcement agencies, who determined the
cause of the fire. Mayor Alexander Avtayev announced that the Synagogue was
torched by the same man who robbed it several days prior. Detained upon
trying to rob another local church, this man later tried to commit suicide
while in police custody. The Mayor commended Jewish leaders in uniting the
congregation at this difficult time and expressed the City's support in the
re-construction of this building. 

"This fire cannot destabilize our town since residents of Malakhovka,
regardless of religion or nationality, are united with the Jewish community
over this tragic occurrence," stated Mayor Avtayev. A local teacher
schoolteacher, Anna Vilk, expressed the grief felt by all residents of this
town, stating, "Today, we are not only burying holy books, but part of our
history as well". 

The Jewish community reacted to this incident by announcing that a new
Jewish Center will be erected on the site of the destroyed Synagogue. Rabbi
Moshe Tamarin announced that the community has already had some success in
finding a donor to assist in the construction of a new two-storey building
to serve as a Synagogue and Jewish Community Center. 

Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar then recited a memorial prayer. The books and the
Scroll were thoroughly prepared and placed into a special burial box. Every
one of the 200 participants took their turn, each throwing three handfuls of
sand with their left hands into the burial pit. 

If you would like to make a contribution to help the Jewish community of
Malakhovka rebuild their Synagogue, please CLICK:
https://www.fjc.ru/AboutUs/default.asp?AID=80060

The FJC of the CIS and Baltic States is a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c) 3
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