Nazi Looted Torah Scroll Sold at Norwegian Auction; Israel Protests
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Israel's Foreign Ministry is demanding Norway halt the auction of a Nazi-looted Torah scroll sold for $8,500 in Oslo. The scroll was reportedly desecrated by SS soldiers and used as wrapping paper. Jerusalem called the sale a "moral low point," especially as Norway may cut funding for Holocaust memorial trips. Other looted items and Nazi memorabilia were also sold at the auction.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's Foreign Ministry demanded Norway stop the auction of a Nazi-looted Torah scroll.
- The desecrated scroll was sold for $8,500 at Valkyrie Historical Auctions in Oslo.
- The Foreign Ministry called the sale a "moral low point."
- The auction also included other looted Jewish items and Nazi memorabilia.
- The sale occurred as Norway reportedly considers cutting funding for Holocaust memorial trips.
Israel's Foreign Ministry has demanded that the Norwegian government immediately halt the auction of a Torah scroll that was looted by Nazis during the Holocaust. The scroll, described as desecrated and used as wrapping paper by SS soldiers, was sold for $8,500 on Sunday at Valkyrie Historical Auctions in Oslo. The auction house's website stated the fragment was found in Poland years ago, likely stolen from a Polish synagogue during the Holocaust, and described it as "directly related to the Holocaust." The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem criticized the auction, particularly in light of reports that Norway is simultaneously expected to cease financial support for Norwegian students' trips to extermination camps. "Auctions of sacred texts looted by the Nazis - IN. Visits to extermination camps - OUT," the ministry stated, calling the sale a "moral low point."
In addition to the Torah scroll, the auction also included other items looted by the Nazis, such as tefillin, a dress with a yellow Star of David, Nazi paraphernalia including symbols, images of Hitler and other Third Reich officials, and even an image intended to depict an "Aryan race daughter." The auction house noted that all items were shipped from Europe.
