The University of Houston is home to an impressive rare book collection within its Special Collections. The rare book collections includes more than 70 historical bibles, 40 volumes and single leaves printed between 1450 and 1501, and a Holocaust Torah rescued from Prague and brought to UH by professors and students almost 40 years ago.
“There were about 2,000 Torahs that had been mutilated or torn, or went unused for many years,” said Irving Rothman, a UH professor of English. “They were seeking protectors.”
In 1975, Rothman helped spearhead the effort by other UH professors and students to obtain a Torah on behalf of the UH student body through an agreement with the Czech Memorial Scrolls Trust.
“The Torah remained part of archives of University, but until recent years, we didn’t have a way to exhibit it,”said Rothman.
In 2012, funds were raised and a special case was constructed to display the Torah in the Rare Book Room of the University of Houston M.D. Anderson Library. Rothman says the Torah can now be used and seen by even more people.
“In academic context, there really are so many areas this Torah can help illuminate,” said Rabbi Kenny Weiss, a professor in the UH department of Religious Studies and executive Director of Houston Hillel.
From history to literature and religion, Weiss says the living document provides hands on learning for students across disciplines.
“I teach in Jewish studies,” said Weiss, “and I bring my class here to look at the Torah just so they can have a hands-on experience with a piece of Judaism.”
To learn more about the Holocaust scrolls rescued by the Czech Memorial Scrolls Trust, visit http://www.czechmemorialscrollstrust.org/index.htm.
To learn more about the University of Houston Special Collections visit http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/campus-libraries-collections/special-collections/rare-books.