Jewish Community of Ukraine Demands Torah Scrolls Be Returned

Kien, Ukraine — Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Azriel Chaikin held a press conference, together with Meir Stambler, the President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, and Chief Rabbi of Zhitomir and Western Ukraine Shlomo Wilhelm. This meeting addressed charges by state archive representatives that the Jewish community of Zhitomir had intentionally damaged 17 Torah scrolls it had received from state archives. Despite the absurdity of these allegations, state officials advised Jewish leaders to wait for the results of the investigation.

Click here to go to the Original Article of the Torahs taken away.

The Department of Internal Affairs has finally released its findings, which completely coincide with the Jewish community’s initial statements. The Jewish community will not be charged in this matter because it did not harm the scrolls in any way. Police expertise also affirms that the damage to these historic scrolls was done previous to the date the Jewish community even received the scrolls.

“We understood immediately that this claim could not be asserted. Today, I am glad that there is finally evidence that these allegations were fabricated,” commented Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Azriel Chaikin.

The Jewish community of Ukraine demands that those Torah scrolls possessed by the state archives be returned to the Jewish community – once and for all and not merely for ‘safekeeping’. “Torah scrolls, holy texts for Jews, were taken away from Jewish communities and they must be returned to them,” stated Meir Stambler.

Today, there are at least 500 scrolls retained by state archives in Ukraine, which are needed by Jewish communities need so they may be restored and used for worship in Synagogues. By some estimates, these expropriated Torah scrolls may even number into the thousands.