Torah hidden in 1941 Iraqi riots presented to a Samarian synagogue
Over eight decades after Yitzhak witnessed as a boy the Farhud, the anti-Jewish riots in Iraq, he has presented an ancient Torah scroll saved from the riots to the synagogue at Havat Yair in Samaria, where his grandchildren live today.
The Safra family and the Torah scroll. (Roi Hadi/Courtesy)
The Torah scroll, owned by the Safra family, was written in Iraq more than 120 years ago, was saved during the Farhud riots that took place this week 81 years ago, and was brought into the synagogue. Over 180 Jews were massacred and 1,000 injured in the riots.
The family’s grandfather, Yitzhak Safra, witnessed the Farhud riots when he was six years old. His father Eliyahu hid the Torah scroll from the rioters. He was further successful in smuggling the scroll to Israel, even though the Iraqi authorities prevented the Jews from taking their religious articles when they left the country. In an operation that included transit stations in Europe, the Torah arrived in Israel and was brought to the synagogue in Havat Yair.
“I am happy that after years in which the Torah has in disuse, I see my sons and grandsons receiving the family Torah, keeping the embers burning,” said Eliyahu.
The Torah is unique, made of deer leather, and adorned with a cover of pure silver.
Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, who participated in the event, said that “it is impossible to describe the power of entering this Torah scroll by the dear Safra family. Written in Iraq, survived the Farhud riots in which almost 200 Jews were massacred in the midst of the Shavuot holiday, went through to Europe, and from there to the State of Israel. And today here, to the thriving and vibrant community in Samaria and the wonderful community at Havat Yair.”
Dagan added: “I try to imagine the Jews in Iraq 100 years ago, see the harassment of Jews – and in the synagogue, they read about the commandment to inherit the land. We will read about the eternal love of the Land of Israel that is written in all Five Books – here at Havat Yair. This is the ‘Eternity of Israel’ in the full sense of the word. This holy book gives us in Samaria an indescribable strength and spirit.”
TPS
Probably better to write ‘a synagogue in Samaria’, as this otherwise implies a synagogue belonging to the Samarians, a separate religion.