Temple Chai Returns Stolen Jewish Textiles to Berlin
A Scottsdale synagogue repatriated 16th-century religious artifacts stolen during the 1938 Kristallnacht pogrom.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Judaism
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Temple Chai in Scottsdale, Arizona, has returned a rare 16th-century Torah wimple and parochet to the Berlin Jewish community. These sacred items were stolen during the 1938 Kristallnacht pogrom and later held by a Holocaust survivor before being donated to the congregation.
Why it matters
The congregation decided these historic artifacts belonged in their original home to honor their past. The successful handover ensures these significant cultural objects are preserved and accessible in the community where they were originally used.
The artifacts date back to the 16th century and spent 88 years away from their origin following the theft. A 5,000 euro customs tax was initially required to release the shipment, which was waived due to the organization's tax-exempt status.
The players
Temple Chai
A Jewish congregation based in Scottsdale, Arizona, that acted as the steward of the stolen artifacts for decades.
Moishe Saksenhaus
A Holocaust survivor who acquired the ritual textiles in postwar Germany through the trade of goods.
New Synagogue Berlin Foundation-Centrum Judaicum
The institution in Berlin that hosted the repatriation ceremony and will maintain the Torah curtain in its collection.
Bonnie Koppell
The Rabbi who assisted in the repatriation process and personally transported the Torah wimple to Germany.
The details
The repatriation ceremony took place at the New Synagogue Berlin Foundation-Centrum Judaicum, attended by 29 visitors from Arizona. Rabbi Bonnie Koppell personally transported the Torah wimple, while the Berlin Jewish community managed the legal release of the collection from customs.
Timeline
November 9, 1938: The textiles are stolen during Kristallnacht.
1993: The Saksenhaus family donates the items to Temple Chai.
October 22, 2026: The official handover ceremony occurs in Berlin.
Culture Shift
The return of these items follows a pattern set by the 1938 Kristallnacht pogrom, serving as an act of historical restitution for looted cultural property. This move highlights a growing global trend of repatriating religious artifacts displaced during the Holocaust to their original communities.
The items will be integrated into the Centrum Judaicum collection and displayed at the Fasanenstrasse synagogue site. Residents and visitors to Berlin will soon have the opportunity to view these historic textiles in their permanent home.
The takeaway
This repatriation demonstrates the ongoing commitment to restoring cultural property lost during the Holocaust. It serves as a reminder of the importance of documenting and returning heritage items to their rightful historical communities.
Further reading
Learn more about the preservation of religious heritage at Judaism.
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