megann@ihuxi.UUCP (Meg McRoberts) (04/19/85)
A XIV century Torah scroll has been discovered at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. It's a pretty amazing story, actually. Apparently, some professor picked this thing up while traveling in the late XIX century; in 1902 he gave it to the college, but nobody paid it much attention. This year, an undergraduate decided to do a term paper on it, and discovered some practices that indicated a very early date on it. JTS has apparently authenticated it as a XIV century Torah, probably from either North Africa or Spain. It was common at that time to make corrections to scribal errors above the line; that practice is reflected in this scroll. The students have engaged the services of an Israeli sofer to restore the scroll and render it appropriate for services again. So far, the money is coming in slowly. Anyone out in netland who'd like to help out with a truly worthy cause? Checks should be made out to Oberlin College, and mailed to: Roberta Milston 26-1/2 S. Main St Oberlin, Ohio 44074 I just spoke with her colleague, Sam Kramer. They are in the process of preparing a new fundraising letter which will give more details on the scroll itself. He was very pleased to be hearing from anyone about this -- he and Roberta live in the same house. Their phone number is (216)775-5621 if you would like to talk to them personally. Meg McRoberts (312)979-5004