Casgliadau Arlein

Torah scroll cover dating from 1966. Finely embroidered on red velvet material by Mrs Trude Owen (1926-2003), a member of the Cardiff Jewish community who was a skilled embroiderer. Used at the Cardiff New Synagogue (now Cardiff Reform Synagogue) where the donor's father was a warden.

'The cover was made to protect a Sefer Torah acquired from a synagogue destroyed during the period of Nazi persecution. At the time (mid 1960s), an opportunity arose for Jewish congregations in the UK to acquire (for purpose of religious observance) Sefer Torahs which had previously belonged to congregations no longer in existence. A suitable period had to elapse in case any members of the defunct community came forward, after which synagogues could send representatives to select from the large number available at a synagogue in London, where they were held for safe-keeping. My father Louis Lermon (1902-96) was at the time and for many years thereafter a warden of the Cardiff New Synagogue (now the Cardiff Reform Synagogue) in Moira Terrace, Cardiff. This synagogue was founded in 1948, partly to cater for the religious needs of many who had fled from central Europe to the UK, both before, during and after the war. I believe that my parents gave a suitable donation to acquire the Sefer Torah (which is still in regular use at the synagogue) and arranged for the cover to be made by Mrs Owen who had herself fled persecution in the 1930s' [Source: accession correspondence with David Lermon].