The German Torah Scrolls

Two of our scrolls (nicknamed “Hannah” and “Huldah” in honor of the prophets) have been with Congregation Beth El since just after we were established in 1945.  Not a lot is known about them.  These scrolls came from Germany, and are each over 100 years old.  They are both very heavy due to the weight of the parchment used.
 
Hulda is an interesting scroll because at some point in its history, it was actually pieced together from at least four other scrolls.  We know this because the handwriting changes at various points.  While Beth El’s two original scrolls are not of particularly high quality, they are clear and easy to read.  Both are written in the Beit Yosef script—one in a German-style and the other in a Romanian style. Neither scroll is kosher to read from during services, and while some restoration has been done, both will probably need to be replaced when funds allow.