New Zealand – Policeman Rescues Torahs from Quake Hit Synagogue

New Zealand – A policeman donned work gloves and a safety helmet to rescue sacred texts from a badly-damaged Jewish community centre following last week’s Christchurch earthquake

After fleeing the Chabad House during the earthquake, Rabbi Shmuel Friedman tried yesterday to retrieve the Sefer Torah scrolls from the building in central Christchurch, but was stopped at the police cordon.

There he pleaded with Detective Chris Bell to let him enter, Rabbi Friedman told Sydney-based Jewish news website J-Wire.

“I explained how the Torah was hand-written on special parchment and that it was the Jewish bible and how much importance was attached to them.”

Det Bell relented and drove the rabbi to the Chabad House in a police car, he said.

“It was a five minute drive … but it was a horrifying experience.

“The entire block which houses Chabad House is red-tagged and will be totally demolished. I didn’t recognize the street.”

Rabbi Friedman said he pleaded with Det Bell again after the policeman said the building was too dangerous to enter.

Det Bell said nothing but then donned a safety helmet and work gloves then went in and got the scrolls.

“He looked like a fireman rescuing a baby from a blazing home,” Rabbi Friedman said.

The two scrolls would form an integral part of rebuilding the Chabad House in Christchurch, he said.