Our Torah
In February 2026, the Six11 Project became a custodian of Czech Torah from the Memorial Scrolls Trust.
Our scroll, MST #469, comes to us from the Memorial Scrolls Trust in London. It was written around 1850 in Velké Meziříčí, Moravia (Czech Republic). In 1942, as the Nazis waged their campaign to destroy European Jewry–leaving behind hundreds of abandoned synagogues– over 200,000 items were collected from communities in Bohemia and Moravia and shipped to the Jewish Museum in Prague where they were catalogued by Jewish curators, few of whom survived the war. For many years it was believed the Germans planned a Museum of an Extinct Race after the war, however some historians now believe it was a Jewish plan to keep them in safe-keeping, never believing so few would survive the Shoah. Miraculously everything survived. This treasure included 1564 Torah and other scrolls that were brought to London in 1964. The Memorial Scrolls Trust in London was established to be responsible for the Torahs and they have allocated some 1400 scrolls on permanent loan to Jewish communities around the world.
After restoration, our Torah (MST #469) was sent in 1969 to a congregation in Johannesburg, where it was used meaningfully for the next 56 years. When the congregation closed its doors in 2025, we applied and were approved to be its next caretakers. We are honored to use this Torah regularly for our services, ceremonies, and classes in Los Angeles, and to continue spreading awareness for the incredible and resilient history of these Torah scrolls.
Our Torah is on permanent loan from the Memorial Scrolls Trust in London. For more information on their work, please visit www.memorialscrollstrust.org.
Please see below for information on the rich Jewish history of Velké Meziříčí.
Jewish history of Velké Meziříčí
Introduction
Our Torah comes from the town of Velké Meziříčí. For centuries, Velké Meziříčí stood as a beacon of Jewish scholarship and communal autonomy in Moravia. Known to many as a 'Mecca' of Torah study, it was home to a succession of world-renowned rabbis whose legal rulings still influence Jewish thought today. Beyond its intellectual legacy, the town’s physical landscape—from the Renaissance-era Old Synagogue to the self-governing streets of the Novosady district—offers a preserved glimpse into a vibrant, independent community that flourished against the backdrop of European history. This guide explores the people, the politics, and the architecture that defined this remarkable heritage.
Fast Facts
Location and Name
Situated 135 km SE of Prague in a hilly, canyon-like area between two rivers, its name literally means “between two rivers” in Old Czech. It is known in Rabbinic literature as Mezeritsh (מזריטש), although this is not the same Mezeritsh that was once home to the famous Hasidic Master, the Maggid of Mezeritsch. See below for other famous rabbinic figures from the town.
The "Moravian Mecca"
The town earned this nickname due to the high density of world-famous Talmudic scholars who lived and taught there during the 17th and 18th centuries. These included Efraim Cohen (Sha’ar Efraim, giant of 17th-century Halakha), Menachem Mendel Krochmal (Tzemach Tzedek, one of the most influential rabbis of 17th century Moravia), Gerson Ashkenazi (Avodat Ha-Gershuni, and student of Krochmal), Meir ben Jochanan (mid-18th century, maintained town’s high standards for community despite significant legal restrictions under the Habsburgs), and Josef Feilbogen (district rabbi when town was a bustling, autonomous Jewish center, overseeing modernization of education).
A "Town Within a Town"
From 1742 until 1848, the Jewish Quarter was a legally independent municipality. It had its own administration, separate from the Christian part of the town. This was around the time our Torah was written.
Population Peak
The population peaked at 1,116 in 1857, still around 1/4 of the total population. In 1851, the Jewish Town was administratively and politically joined with the city. The Jewish population steadily declined, as the increased freedom and opportunity encouraged migration to more urban or even foreign locations. The Jewish population dwindled below 100 in the 1930s.
Architectural Rarity
It is one of the few towns in Central Europe to have two standing synagogues from different eras (Renaissance/Baroque and Neo-Gothic) located within a few yards of each other.
The "Iron" Survivor
Despite the tragic end of the community during the Holocaust, the Old Synagogue survived because it was used as a simple warehouse, hiding its historical significance from total destruction. Click here for more information.
Cultural Symbolism
The Jewish cemetery contains the "Kohanim Hands" motif on many graves, signaling the high number of priestly families (like Rabbi Efraim Cohen) who called the town home. Click here for more information.
New Synagogue
The New Synagogue (built in 1867) is often cited by architects for its "unapologetic" style. Unlike earlier synagogues that were hidden behind walls or built to look like houses, its bold red-brick Neo-Gothic design was a statement of the community’s newfound legal equality and pride in the 19th century.
Jewish Sites
The town is unique for having two distinct synagogues that represent different eras of Jewish architectural history.
The Old Synagogue (Stará synagoga)
Origin: Built around 1695 (replacing a 16th-century wooden structure), it is a Renaissance-style building with Baroque and Classicist additions.
Interior: It features a stunning Baroque-Classicist portal added in the 18th century. Inside, the walls were decorated with traditional Hebrew inscriptions and ornamental paintings.
Modern Use: After the New Synagogue was built, the Old Synagogue served as a warehouse. In 1995–1996, it was restored and now serves as an exhibition space for the local museum.
Click here for more information.
The New Synagogue (Nová synagoga)
Origin: Built in 1867 during the height of the community’s wealth and influence.
Architecture: It was designed in a striking Neo-Gothic style with raw brickwork, reflecting the 19th-century trend of building "Grand Synagogues" that were visible and proud parts of the town skyline.
Surprising Fate: Today, the building is famously (and somewhat controversially) used as a department store and warehouse, though the exterior still retains its distinct Neo-Gothic windows and structural grandeur. There is an effort by the Jewish communities in Prague and Brno to reclaim and restore the synagogue.
Timeline
The Rise and Legacy of Jewish Velké Meziříčí
1492–1518
First Recorded Presence
Earliest mentions of Jewish residents in town records under the Pernštejn family.
1650
Cemetery Established
The current Jewish cemetery is founded on the hill overlooking the town.
1742
Administrative Autonomy
The Jewish Quarter (Novosady) is officially recognized as an independent political municipality.
1848
Peak Population
Jewish residents make up nearly 30% of the town (1,116 people). Legal restrictions on movement are lifted across Austria-Hungary.
1890s–1910s
Modernization
The community begins to shrink as younger generations move to larger cities like Brno and Vienna for university and industry.
1995
Restoration
The Old Synagogue is fully restored and reopened as a museum and cultural center.
1648–1650
The Great Influx
Refugees from the Khmelnytsky Uprising (Poland) arrive, bringing scholars like Rabbi Efraim Cohen.
1695
Old Synagogue Built
A stone Renaissance-style synagogue replaces an earlier wooden structure, signaling permanent growth.
1720s–1780s
The Era of Scholars
The town becomes known as the "Moravian Mecca" as families of famous rabbis (Ashkenazi, Krochmal) lead the community.
1867
The New Synagogue
Construction of the grand Neo-Gothic New Synagogue is completed, reflecting the era of Jewish Emancipation.
1942
The Tragic End
In May, the remaining 71 Jewish residents are deported to Terezín (Theresienstadt); most perish in the Holocaust. Click here for more information.