Three ancient Sifrei Torah were stolen from a shul in Tehran, the capital of Iran, over the weekend, the daily Yisrael Hayom newspaper reports.
According to the report, the three Sifrei Torah, which are believed to be about 1000-years-old, were stolen from the shul in the Ezra-Avrishimi community in Tehran on Thursday night.
The building serves as the center of life for what remains of the local Jewish community, including a shul, a kosher restaurant, a mikve, educational institutions and more.
The theft was heard by a Jew from London, who visited a few days ago at “Ezra – Avrishmi” and contacted local Jews. They told him about the importance of the Sifrei Torah, saying that at this stage it is unknown whether the motive for the act is criminal or anti-Semitic.
At the same time, due to the concern that the Seforim will be smuggled out of the country in light of their value in the antiquities market, the Iranian border police have also been involved.
(YWN Israel Desk-Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
I would wouldn’t be surprised if the mossad snuck it out, and moves it into a museum somewhere in Israel as they did in so many other paets of the world
It is truly amazing and beautiful that Jewish life still exists in Iran, continuing the Persian Jewish community that is thousands of years old.
As the Jewish residents of smaller villages have been moving to the metropolitan cities, by law, that deems all the Jewish artifacts as “national treasures”, the community leaders had to lock up the shuls leaving the Sefriot in a flimsy state under no protection. Again, by law they can not transfer these Holy books to where the community moves to. These are also remnant of ancient Iraqi Jewish community at the time the came to Iran. I have heard first hand these thefts are very common and few years ago when I was in Grand Bazzar in Istanbul Turkey, I saw parchments of Torah written on deer skin for sale.
It is amazing to me that a Shul in the center of the Tehran where daily traffic is non stop (Shacharit, Minha Arvit daily classes) a real hub and Jewish center was broken into.
It makes me wonder how sophisticated and meticulous pervious planning had to be made. You can’t just walk in to this shul and take things, The Genniza of this Shul is in the back is fully protected by the Kehal but NO security cameras.
As one of the comments left above regarding Mossad. Only an Ignorant person can make such a comment. You watch too many movies. The daily lives of Jews in Sakana every day and still they make every effort to maintain religious status. NO Mossad in Iran.
As for UJM’s comment. Yup. The Mesorat Nefesh the community makes the Islamic Republic is truly amazing. Only if you knew 1/1000,000 of self sacrifice they make to remain Torah Jews. Dont forget them in your prayers, but I would go so far as to say that it is the Iranian Jewish Torah learning that keeps the Jews comfortable around the world.
Frealiche Purim.