Q.  How do you get a “fragment” of a Torah?

As a Torah scrolls ages, factors such as heat and humidity may cause minor smudges, cracks in the letters or wearing of the pages. These scrolls are called “pasul” and can no longer be used in services. Our fragments are only selected from very old pasul scrolls and never from kosher scrolls that can be read in services.

Q.  How old are the scrolls and where do they come from?

The scrolls are hundreds of years old and originated with communities across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The focal point of every community was the Synagogue where they gathered to read from their Sefer Torah. These communities were subjected to oppression and expulsion. Most of them have disappeared completely as their populations fled – taking their Torah scrolls with them.

We are constantly touched by the thought that generations of Jews celebrated their personal and communal events while reading from these very same treasured scrolls.

Q.  What pieces do you have?

You can order a Torah fragment based upon:

• a specific theme (eg. the Ten Commandments, Creation, the Shema)
• its community of origin (eg. pre-Holocaust Europe, Persia/Iran, Iraq, Morocco etc)
• a specific Torah parsha (for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs). The parsha may be for a current event or for an event that took place many years ago (eg. the parsha of an adult that had his bar mitzvah many years ago).

Simply click on the Torah Fragments menu item in the top menu bar and select a search type.

Q.  Does Jewish law require that you bury old Torah scrolls?

Halacha (religious law) forbids the use of pasul Torah scrolls in services and requires that they not be allowed to deteriorate in public. It is a common custom to bury them, but most authorities agree that anything containing the name of Hashem simply be treated with the appropriate “kavod” (honor and respect).  

Our mission is to take old, discarded Torah scrolls and restore them so they may become a source of inspiration. According to Rabbi Eliot Dorff, vice chair of the Conservative movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, the fragments are being used "for a sacred purpose to instill a sense of honor and respect to the Torah, and to put it in a place in the home where it will be a constant reminder of the Torah and all it represents -- our values, our history, our hopes and our beliefs" (Los Angeles Jewish Journal, 2/2//08).

Q.  How would I use a Torah fragment?

The pieces come framed and ready to occupy a prominent place in any home or office. A Torah fragment is an ideal gift for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, dedications, birthdays or anniversaries, new house or any special occasion.

Q.  What type of framing do you use?

The fragments are up to several hundred years old and very fragile. They’re made of animal skin and sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. They would not endure within a regular store bought frame.

We place the highest priority on conservation in our framing techniques. You can select from two styles of stunning cases for the parchments - mahogany wood or high quality UV Plexiglass. Each case is custom built to the size and type of parchment being housed.  This is the type of frame that you would see in a world-class museum. We use only acid-free and museum-quality archival materials, and ensure ample air circulation to create a stable microclimate and avoid condensation.

Q.  Where can I see samples of the Torah fragments?

Simply click on the Torah Fragments menu item in the top menu bar and select a search type. You can browse the images online. We always have some fragments that haven't been posted on the site yet so call us at (800) 269-7095 if you need help finding anything.