Thieves steal Torah scrolls from Salford synagogue
"Our efforts is to get the scrolls back"
Members of a synagogue have made a plea after two scrolls were were stolen from their shul. The scrolls were taken by three men at around 5.30am on Friday (March 20).
According to members, three men entered the Beis HaMedrash Torah Etz Chaim, also known as the 69, and made off with a safe from the synagogue on Bury New Road, Salford.
The synagogue is launching a campaign for the return of the items, offering a £2,000 reward.
CCTV captured the moment the trio, dressed in hi-vis and equipped with a trolley, found their way into the building before loading the huge safe into a van and riding off.
The only items inside the safe were two holy scrolls, however, which are referred to as Sifrei Torah plurally and Sefer Torah individually.
Speaking to the M.E.N, a committee member of the synagogue, said: "It looks like they knew where they were going.
"They went upstairs into the synagogue. They took away our safe which is very, very heavy. The three guys damaged it and they did some damage on the walls and the floor.
"In 33 minutes they were out there with the two scrolls that are very sentimental."
In Judaism, the Sefer Torah is a handwritten Torah which is written on parchment paper with special ink. The scrolls are known to take a long period of time to complete and scribes must undergo years of training before obtaining a qualification to inscribe them.
Used weekly at synagogues, they are passed down from generation to generation. According to the synagogue members, the stolen scribes were between 50 and 100 years old.
"There's no value for the public, but for us it's very sentimental." One member told the M.E.N "It's very devastating news and it's really difficult on us, it's worrying thinking about they are going to do with these scrolls.
"I think they'll be devastated with what they find. For them it's not worth even a penny. You can't sell these things.
"It doesn't have a second hand value, nobody would buy these things without knowing where it's from.
"We are very scared, we don't want them to handle it with disrespect. You have to be very respectful, you can't chuck it in the bin, the floor and you can't burn these things.
"For us it's more important in getting them back than finding out who took it. Our efforts is to get the scrolls back."
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Officers are aware of this, no arrests have been made at this time and it is being investigated."
A CST spokesperson said: "Torah scrolls are holy and much cherished, and their loss will be extremely upsetting for the Jewish community. We urge anyone with any information to assist in their return by contacting the police or CST."