In a historic ceremony, ancient, worn-out Torah scrolls from the Western Wall were brought to a special burial (genizah) ceremony on the Mount of Olives.

Nineteen Torah scrolls, some of which survived the Holocaust in Europe, were included in the genizah event. These scrolls, the oldest of which is 150 years old, were buried in a dignified manner according to the Jerusalem tradition, with the participation of many people.
Following the holiday of Shavuot, when many visit the Western Wall Plaza daily to celebrate the receiving of the Torah and to commemorate the Temple, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation held a historic event this evening (Wednesday) for the first time at the Western Wall Plaza. Ancient Torah scrolls that had become worn over the years were brought to burial (genizah). This was done following a comprehensive inspection process, carried out by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, of all Torah scrolls used by the public in various prayers and Bar Mitzvah celebrations at the Western Wall Plaza.

The event was dedicated in memory of the Rosh Yeshiva, the Ga’on Yerachmiel Gershon Edelstein zz”l.
The ancient Torah scrolls are from different periods of time with estimations of some being 150 years old. Some survived World War I and later the Holocaust. They originated in Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, and more. The scrolls, which had served the millions of worshippers and visitors at the Western Wall Plaza every year for decades until they had become worn-out from use, were deemed irreparable and could not be returned for use by worshippers.

The ceremony was attended by the Rabbi of the Jewish Quarter, the elder rabbi, Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl; the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Lau; the Rabbi of the Western Wall and the holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz; Rabbi of the Romema neighborhood and President of the Jerusalem Chevreh Kadisha (Religious Burial Society), Rabbi Benjamin Adler; Rabbi Meir Porush, Minister of Jerusalem and Jewish Tradition; Rabbi Michael Malkieli, Minister of Religious Affairs, Director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation Mordechai (Suli) Eliav, and a large congregation accompanied by Naftali Kempe and the “Neranena” choir, who sang uplifting songs in honor of the Torah and its students.
From the Western Wall, they made their way in a procession to the burial site on the Mount of Olives, led by the Jerusalem Religious and General Burial Society (Perushim), toward the special genizah structure erected by the Chevreh Kadisha, all in accordance with the customs of Jerusalem and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

The Rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, said:

“We have the great privilege of bringing nineteen Torah scrolls to genizah and paying our respects. These Torah scrolls have been a faithful testimony to their use for decades, representing all Jewish communities in Israel and beyond, just as the Western Wall Plaza unites people from around the world in prayer. We will continue to ensure that all Torah scrolls in the Western Wall are “mehudar” according to the traditions of all communities, under halachic supervision. Blessed are the Torah scrolls of the Western Wall that have been used so extensively by its visitors.”