Torah scroll

This is a fragment of the parchment with the text of the Torah, given to the organ builder Zygmunt Kamiński (the Donor's grandfather) during World War, II by his Jewish friends who had been his clients. The friends never came back to collect the Torah after the war.

An important element in the synagogue liturgy is the singing recitation of the Torah, which, according to the contemporary theologian Jacob Neusner, recreates the meaning of the revelation in the Torah and and brings it to life. The ritual dates back to the time of Prophet Ezra. The Torah is always read in the presence of a minyan (a gathering of ten Jews over the age of 13 necessary for prayer in the synagogue and some religious ceremonies). The reading of Torah passages takes place during the Sabbath, holidays, the first days of the month, and on all Mondays and Thursdays.

In the Sephardic tradition, the Torah is raised before reading, while in the tradition of the Yemeni Jews, only the parchment is raised. According to the Ashkenazi tradition (the one Polish Jews identify with), the Torah is raised after reading.Among orthodox circommunities, only men are allowed to read the Torah in public, but in Reform factions, where gender egalitarianism is common, women can read the Torah as well.Donated by Maciej Łuczak.

Natalia Różańska