Balla Family Torah Scroll

Budapest, Hungary, date unknown

Image Slideshow

Adella Balla’s closed Torah scroll, standing upright. It has an embroidered mantle, silver pointer, and an ornamental crown-shaped rimmonim.
Upright closed Torah scroll with embroidered mantle, silver pointer, and ornamental crown-shaped rimmonim.
Adella Balla’s closed Torah scroll, standing upright. Its mantle and ornaments have been removed to show its parchment scroll and wooden handles.
Closed Torah scroll with mantle and silver ornaments removed to show parchment and wooden handles.

This Torah scroll belonged to the Balla family of Hungary. In the winter of 1944-45, the Nazis and their Hungarian collaborators rounded up and murdered 20,000 Jews in the city of Budapest. To avoid being captured, Adelle Balla went into hiding with her infant son. The only item she took with her was this Torah scroll. Adelle came from a family of rabbis, and the Torah was a link to her family’s history and religious traditions. Her son died within days of liberation, but Adelle and the Torah scroll survived.

Donated to the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre by Rabbi Imre Balla. 2002.015.001

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