Torah Dedicated on USS Ronald Reagan

Navy Newsstand ^ | 12/4/2003 1:09:00 PM | Journalist 3rd Class Megan Moline

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Approximately 30 Holocaust survivors watched as a Torah recovered from Germany was dedicated to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in late November.

Other guests for the ceremony included Mark Talisman, founding vice chairman of the U.S. Holocaust Council and Memorial Museum, and the Oppenheimer family, who donated the Torah.

“This is the only Holocaust Torah aboard a U.S. vessel,” said Talisman. “In 1981, President Reagan spoke of his part in Europe in World War II, and when he saw the concentration camps. ‘I was one of the first who saw what happened. And it happened,’ President Reagan said to a Holocaust doubter.”

The Torah aboard CVN 76 was one of more than a thousand collected in Prague on Hitler’s orders. In 1964, the collection was moved to Westminster Synagogue in London, where the restoration process of putting the scrolls back together took more than 35 years.

The Torah is on loan to Ronald Reagan for the next 50 years — the life expectancy of the ship. After that, the Torah will be returned to the Oppenheimer family.

“Because of the existence of USS Ronald Reagan, and because of the hard work of the thousands of Sailors that will serve on her, you will still be free at the end of those 50 years,” Capt. James A. Symonds, commanding officer of Ronald Reagan, said to Rabbi Michael A. Oppenheimer's grandchildren, who were in attendance.

“My heart will be with USS Ronald Reagan every Sabbath day, when we are reading the same passages in different places,” said Oppenheimer. “Torahs throughout the world are a symbol of Jewish freedom."

“This Torah will be cherished aboard this ship not only as a symbol of religious freedom, but as a symbol of human freedom as well,” said Symonds. “The fact that it came from the Holocaust will help remind Sailors that preserving human freedom is very important, and that is something we do everyday.”

For related news, visit the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn76.

031120-N-0967W-027 Aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Nov. 20, 2003 -- Rabbi Michael A. Oppenheimer carries a 300-year-old Torah that was presented to the Navy's newest nuclear powered aircraft carrier by the Oppenheimer family. The family heirloom is one of only 300 Torahs that survived the Holocaust during World War II. The ship will safeguard it during its 50-plus year life span, when it will then be returned to Oppenheimer's grandchildren, who were in attendance and witnessed the ceremony. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Anthony Walker. (RELEASED)

[CO_dreamer]

I'll be darned. I never knew Reagan was in Europe for WWII. My memory must be fading.

[thoughtomator]

I didn't know that either. That he saw the death camps firsthand explains a lot.

[StoneColdGOP]

Wow.

Very cool. BTTT.

[johnb838]

Wasn't he like in the military but in some sort of movie actor type position. I mean documentaries or training films, that sort of thing?

[matrix2225]

You can find more information on that ship, under this link.  It is impressive ship.

 

http://www.reagan.navy.mil/photos.htm

 

 

 

[AngryJawa]

CVN 76

Peace Through Strength

[Indrid Cold]

Actually, he didn't. He "remembered" it from a movie he made, apparently.

[Ditto]

He wasn't in Europe. He was in Hollywood as part of Army Special Operations command --- the people who made 'official films'. He would have been in the position to be one of the first to see the raw footage shot by Signal Corps camermen after the camps were liberated.

[Devereaux]

Captain Reagan was not in Europe during the war. When the war began he was a 2nd Lt. in the US Cavalry Reserve. He was placed on active duty in 1942 and transfered to the Army Air Corps, where he worked preparing training films for everything from how to recognize enemy aircraft to laying out mock-ups of bombing targets for planning purposes. What he saw of the Concentration Camps was film footage of those camps made by the liberation forces. I believe his unit was involved in deciding what portions of those films were fit for public consumption. He kept a copy of the films and showed them to his sons when he felt they were old enough to view the horror they portrayed.

[jla]

Following the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Lt. Reagan interrupted his acting career and on April 19, 1942, went on active duty.
This was not achieved without some difficulty because when Lt. Reagan took his first physical exam, he was not accepted for active duty due to eyesight difficulties. His persistence finally triumphed and he was given another exam which he passed.
However, he was classified for limited service only, which permanently denied to him his ambition of serving overseas. His first assignment was at the San Francisco Port of Embarkation, Fort Mason, Cal., as Liaison Officer of the Port and Transportation Office.

Excerpt from here

[jla]

Nice story ping

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

An old thread I missed.

The Torah is from Kissingen, Germany, circa 1700, taken from Germany just before Kristallnacht by Rabbi Oppenheimer's step grandfather.

It serves the duration of the USS Ronald Reagan's commission, till 2053.

................

Today, the Torah begins it's tour of duty. It will serve as a reminder of why we have the mission to preserve human freedom.
Cpt James Symonds

Video--USS Ronald Reagan Receives A Piece Of History.

[bobsatwork]

Torah! Torah! Torah!

[tiamat]

Good post!

Thank you!

[Happy2BMe]

"The (Rare) Torah will remain on the ship for 50 years, or for the life of the ship."

God's speed to The U.S.S. Ronald Reagan!

[rageaholic]

I love it, a Torah is part of an aircraft carrier's weaponry. That will help lay down some Old Testament style law and order and a Holy Moses Smackdown on the islamists. Don't mess with Jews.

[rmlew]

A distant relative of mine (an the neice of Shalom Asch) dedicated that last years of her life to this project. Last time I was in London, I got to see the Torah scrolls as they were restored.
Save for being returned to vibrant congregation at the Synagogues it once served or in a restored Temple, I can think of no better place for the restored Torah.

[rmlew]

I just made a mistake. Ruth Shaffer was the daughter of Shalom Asch. http://www.jewishsf.com/bk010511/usp46b.shtml
Ruth was certainly not involved in the decision to have one of the Torahs on the USS Ronald W Reagan. Her brother Moses Asch ( founder of Folkways Music, and publisher of Woodie Guthrie's works) must be rolling over in his grave.

[Walkingfeather]

I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
“As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.