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PAGE 12 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE May 30, 1986 Nathan S. Lewit Owner-Operator LEARN TO DRIVE • Adults;Teenagers: certificate w/6 or more hrs. behind-wheel training—classroom optional; Senior citizens' discount • Dual Controlled 1986 Cars • Licensed by the State of Georgia • Over 10 yrs. Experience Call for information 454-9100 NATHAN S Driving School, Inc. Amelia’s FLOWERS & GIFTS, INC. Cits Fresh and silk flower arrangements blooming and foliage plants, unique gifts, art gallery/wire service delivery Loehmann’s Plaza at Executive Park 2484 Briarcliff Road • Suite 24 636-0428 Visit Our Treasure Trove It’s worth the stop to seeourcollectionof finest quality hand painted Oriental porcelains, lamps and accessories. And when you see our prices, you’ll want to come again and again. General public invited Designers welcome Lamp Factory Outlet/ a The Porcelain House 1 1646 Roswell Road ^— Marietta Plzen Synagogue: Beautiful building fallen into disrepair. Holocaust Torah’s origin traced on visit to Czech city of Plzen by Sol Singer In 1973, my wife, Ruth, and I learned that the Westminister Synagogue in London, England, had acquired a large number of Czechoslovakian Holocaust Sifrei Torah (Torahs that had been gathered from various congrega tions and sent to warehouses in Prague) and that arrangements could be made for synagogues to become custodians of these Torahs w hich would be on permanent loan. We proceeded to make arrange ments to secure a Holocaust Torah for the Ahavath Achim Synagogue. In due time we re ceived a 19th century Torah which had come from the Synagogue ol Plzen, Czechoslovakia. The Torah was appropriately presented to our congregation at Sabbath Services, then placed in the museum as a memorial. Plzen is an industrial city, fam ous for its Pilsener beer and Skoda Machine Works. The Jewish com munity was one of the earliest in West Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. Among the first documentary re cords is a decree of 1338, signed by Charles IV, in which the city’s administrators were ordered, under penalty, to protect the Jews from molestation. In 1432 the Jewish community bought a plot from the city to be used as a cemetery. “LOVE’’ AND “UNDERSTANDING’’... TWO WORDS THAT ARE OUR FOUNDATION AND OUR PLEDGE While undoubtedly KING SPRINGS VILLAGE Health Care Center provides the finest nursing facilities in the South, our goal is to make our residents comfortable, happy, and secure by providing the ultimate in professional care and a wide range of social and recreational programs. That’s why KING SPRINGS VILLAGE Health Care Center provides the little “extras” that assure a feeling of privacy, dignity, and independence. Our emphasis is always on the quality of life. Extra care . . . Extra service . . . Extra interest Let us show you “love” and “understanding” in action. You are warmly invited to visit and observe firsthand our wide range of social and recreational programs, and to meet our dedicated staff. KING SPRINGS VILLAGE HEALTH CARE CENTER 404 King Springs Village Pkwy. Smyrna, Georgia 30080 We are confident that you will like what you see. (404) 432-4444 Kosher Meals upon Request Approved loi Medu .ire Admissions seven days a week Dave Morgan, Administrator Owned By: Henry & Barbara Grossberg Israel & Yetra Goldberg in 1870 the Jewish community numbered 1,207 and was instru mental in the development of the city as an industrial center of worldwide repute. At the begin ning of the 20th century the com munity was among the most afflu ent in Bohemia; a Moorish style synagogue was erected in 1893. In 1930 the Jewish community numbered 2,773 (2.4 percent of the total population). In the fall of 1938 Plzen became a refuge for many Jews from other communi ties in the Sudeten area already occupied by Germany. Under German occupation (March 1939), there were persecu tions and arrests of Jews, and the Jewish cemetery was desecrated. A plan to destroy the synagogue was given up only because it would have caused the destruction of an entire city block. In 1942 more than 2,000 Jews from all Western Bohemia were concentrated in Plzen and deported to the Nazi extermi nation camps. The synagogue’s ritual objects were transferred by the Nazis to the Central Jewish Museum in Prague to be held for the future establishment of “a museum to an extinct race.” In October 1981, we received a letter from Rabbi Robert A. Alper, Congregation Beth Or, Spring House, Penn., telling us that his congregation was also custodian of one of the Holocaust torahs from the town of Prestice, Czechoslo vakia. In May 1981 he had traveled to Prestice to learn as much as pos sible about its Jewish community. Prestice is 15 miles south of Plzen so he had “a marvelous opportun ity to visit Plzen at length and meet with the remnant of its Jewish community.” He gave us a good deal of infor mation about his visit and his host and guide in Plzen—Rudolph Lowy. Rabbi Alper encouraged us to visit Plzen if we ever had the opportu nity. In the fall of 1985 wejoined with a group of fellow Atlantans on the UJA President’s Mission to Israel. Before going to Israel, we made a Continued next page.