New York – Housing over 500,000 books and 100 million documents, lower Manhattan’s Center for Jewish History, a partnership of five Jewish historic organizations and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is dedicated to preserving and researching Jewish history, culture and art.
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In celebration of its tenth anniversary, the Center for Jewish History is featuring a unique exhibit in conjunction with the Yeshiva University Museum, one of its partner institutions. Titled Zero to Ten, the exhibit features treasured historical artifacts dating back to either the first decade of each century from the 15th century through the 20th, or items that were acquired by the Center in its first decade of the 21st century.
One of the most fascinating items on display is a sefer Torah belonging to the Baal Shem Tov, featuring actual lines that are believe to have been written by the Baal Shem himself. The father of the donor, the Lashkovitzer Rebbe, was actually a 7th generation descendant of the Baal Shem Tov.
Yeshiva University Museum Director Jacob Wisse describes the Torah as “one of the gems of our collection. We are honored to have an object of such great meaning with its direct connection to the Baal Shem Tov to share with the public.”
“The Torah, written by a sofer known as Reb Tzvi who was also a student of the Baal Shem Tov, was authenticated by comparing the handwriting to another Sefer Torah in Israel that is known to have been written for the Baal Shem Tov,” according to Bonni-Dara Michaels, Collections Curator at the Yeshiva University Museum in an exclusive interview with VIN News. “While some people are disturbed to have a Sefer Torah on display instead of being in use, many others are fascinated and delighted to see a Torah that was used by the Baal Shem Tov.”
Also included are an 1818 letter by Thomas Jefferson decrying anti Semitism and proclaiming America as a bastion of religious freedom and tolerance, a handwritten draft of Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus” , inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, from the collection of the American Jewish Historical Societyand a late 19th century-early 20th century elaborately gilded silver Kesser Torah from Austria Hungary.
Zero to Ten will be on display at the Center for Jewish History, located at 15 W. 16th Street from now through May 29th.
Online: http://www.cjh.org/
There are another 2 such Sifrei Torah that I know of. One in Viznitz BB and the other in Machnofke BB(Bne Brak).
In the Gerer shtibel in Golders Green, London, there is a Sefer Torah of the Chasam Sofer.
The Munkatcher Rebbe owns a small Sefer Torah that was used and belonged to the Baal Shem Tov. When the Rebbe received the Torah, a grand Hachnosas Sefer Torah was held and the Torah was brought to the Munkatcher Beis Medrash, then on 13th Avenue and 52nd Street. Must have been 20 or 25 years ago
The skolya rebbi shilta of 18th Avenue has a sefer torah From the Baal shem tov
He reads in that torah every shovas (שבועות) he got if from his grandfather the previous skolya rebbi zy”a.
How many more Baal Shem ZT”L Sifrei Torah are there?
Safed’s 500-year-old Torah scroll
Abuhav Synagogue’s ancient Torah scroll dates back to 14th century, still fit for reading, unlike many ancient scrolls exhibited in museums
“From research we conducted it appears the scroll was written in the 14th century by Isaac Aboab of Castile,” Karsenti said. “A scribe examined the scroll two years ago and confirmed it was fit for reading. There are many ancient Torah scrolls in museums but they are banned for reading during prayers because of erased letters or words. This scroll can be read in a synagogue,” he said.
At congregation Shearith Israel in Manhattan, there is a remnant of a sefer Torah that was partially burned by the British Army in their invasion of New York in 1776.
was this sefer torah more expencive then the divre chaim sefer torah in satmar that was sold for 1Million ?
The Skolye Rebbe still has the sefer torah and he reads from it from time to time and not just on shavous.