St Louis, MO – University City police are investigating the disappearance of one of the Torahs belonging to Congregation Bais Menachem — Chabad on Delmar.
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Rabbi Yosef Landa and the congregation discovered the Torah was missing during Shabbat services.
“When we opened the ark for the Torah service I realized one of the Torahs was missing,” Landa said. “A big gasp went up throughout the congregation.” “The Torah which was stolen is the only Torah we actually own,” Landa said.
The last time he saw both Torah scrolls was the previous Shabbat.
Landa contacted the University City police department after Shabbat and officers arrived within a few minutes. They interviewed Landa, filed a report and told him he would be contacted by a detective during the week.
Landa said he e-mailed other rabbis to alert them to the theft so they could be more watchful at their own congregations.
“This is so disappointing,” Landa said. “There was no sign of forced entry. We have an open door policy. People who frequent the congregation know the code to get into the building.”
Landa and members of the congregation checked around the community just in case someone had borrowed the Torah for a shiva house or to study. “This is very sad for me personally,” Landa said. “I’m holding out hope that I will wake up from this nightmare and the Torah will be back. I assure whoever took it total anonymity. We just want the Torah back — no questions asked.”
Wow that’s crazy. I hope the Sefer Torah will be returned safe and sound.
That’s a big problem with combination locks on shuls….
that is why our shul with a combo lock has a SAFE for the sifrei Torah. hope they security etched in their sifrei Torah
MAy HKB”H Insure that the Torah come back on time for SHavuos, so that teh Yidden there can be Mikabel the Toirah, Amen!
A whole black market on sifrei torah is out there. A lot of “handling” of it is done out of brooklyn.
sadly, they end up in the chop shop and sold off or moved out of the country in pieces.