Obj. ID: 10861
  Sacred and Ritual  Torah mantle, Thessaloniki (Salonika), 1926

1. The Major synagogue was probably established by refugees who fled from Majorcaafter the expulsion of 1942. Disagreements and disputes among the congregation occurred in the first half of the seventeenth century, causing splits of the community into several small congregations. According to one source, it was split into two synagogues: The Major Rishon (the first) and Sheni (the second). The first, located in the Yeni Havlu quarter (Gerogiou Stavrou St.), was destroyed in the fire of 1890. A year later it was reestablished, but was burned down again in the fire of 1917. The Major Rishon Synagogue was then relocated at Spartis Street. The Major Sheni, however, is not listed among the synagogues which were burned in the fire of 1917. Yet, for an unknown reason it was also relocated to another area (Quarter 6; cf. Messinas, The Synagogues, p. 63, synagogues. nos.12, 13).

A different source testifies that the worshippers of the Major Holy Congregation were split from the Sicilian Synagogue into small groups, but remained to pray in the same building; "The Honourable and the Rich Congregation" known as "The Major Holy Congregation", and "The Repentances", known also as the "Nah'myias Sect", who were less wealthy and felt dejected and despondent (cf. Kerem, Salonika, pp. 202-203).            

The discrepancy in the historical evidence concerning the establishment of the congregation, makes it difficult to determine to which of the various congregations our Torah mantle was donated. Yet, since the dedication does not indicate whether it was dedicated to the Rishon or Sheni Major synagogue, it is possible to assume that there was only one Major Congregation known at the time of the donation. Accordingly, it is likely that the mantle was donated to the "The Honourable and the Rich Congregation" known as Major.

1. A collection of ritual objects was confiscated from the Greek Jews when they were transported toAuschwitzduring World War II. This Torah mantle was handed over to the Jewish Historical Institute in 1949 fromTorun, a city in northernPoland, where the Nazis had concentrated the ritual objects from different places, mainly fromPoland.