"I have given a good education to you. You will not leave the Torah… It is a tree of life for those who take refuge in her, provides happiness to those who maintain that which is hers; their ways are pleasant, their footpaths lead to The Peace, let us return towards you, Oh! G'd; and we will return, renew our days like long ago…"
  rom Spain to Argentina, this Sepher Torah underwent and survived two holocausts, is living testimony to the 800 years of history from the times of Maimónides to the present.
This Sepher Torah, survived the inquisition in Spain accompanying the Sepharadic Jews in their exile.
This Sepher Torah survived the Nazi massacre in the Island of Rhodes because, when the Germans started their final thrust against the Juderia, the Jewish leaders gave it to the Moslem community for safekeeping and return after the fall of Fascism.
 It is impressive to see the excellent state of conservation like preserving history. The markings on its leather trace back its 800 years, perhaps tired of such a long journey, so many emigrations, so many expulsions.
In spite of this, like an old and robust wise man, it appears before your eyes with the strength of wisdom, not only for its content but also, by having received the attention from the eyes of countless students in search of the meaning of each letter.
This Sepher Torah was donated by the Jewish Community of Rhodes from the hands of its President, Mr. Maurice Soriano (z'l), to the Centro Comunitario Chalom of Buenos Aires that today is its honored keeper.
 This presentation was made when the President of the Chalom Community was Mr. Salvador Notrica (z'l).
Nevertheless, this Sepher Torah, given its high value -in every aspect - is not on exhibition, but is being preserved at another site under conditions of strict security.
The INGEIS, namely the Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica (Institute of Geochronology and Geology Isotopic) of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica (National Council of Scientific and Technique) carried out radio carbon dating tests in order to obtain with greater precision the age of the Sepher. The result of the analysis made on the 5th of February, 2001 corresponded to the Year 1210 +/- 110 years, that is to say, its origin was between the years 1100 and 1320.
 The result was published in the prestigious international magazine “RADIOCARBON”. See Carbon-14 study. Furthermore the experts analyzed both the writing and the parchment to confirm the age of the Sepher Torah. See Sepher study.
The entrance of the Sepher to the Chalom Temple of Buenos Aires was welcomed with all honors, being held in the arms of President Mr. Salomón Notrica (ZL).
The emotion was also reflected in the letter that Mr. Maurice Soriano sent to us.
 The steps taken from the Island of Rhodes to the Comunidad Chalom, were reflected in Articles written in the publication Los Muestros in their issue of the 4th of September, 1991 "An enthusiastic town next to its Law, by Matilde Gini de Barnatan" and in the newspaper La Luz. |
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