Buried in Bury: how a synagogue cast historic Sefer Torah aside

More than 1,500 scrolls preserved by the Jewish museum in Prague during the Holocaust arrived in London in 1964.

Although some were irreparable, others were restored by the trust, which is housed at the independent Progressive Westminster Synagogue. Over the years 1,400 have been loaned to synagogues across the world.

The 18th-century scroll, loaned to Bury in 1966, comes from Lostice in Moravia. Fifty-nine Jews from Lostice were deported by the Nazis and only three returned after the war.

Mrs Friedlander said, “The scroll is of historical interest.

“They were told at the time that it was on loan and not theirs to dispose of.”

It is unclear when Bury decided to bury the scroll.

Ian Joseph, Bury’s chairman, said this week that “the events referred to with respect to the scroll predate the current shul executive. 

“We will investigate internally the matter and then respond via the appropriate channels with any findings”.