Esther scroll

Anonymous

Item information

Esther scroll

Parchment with text wound on a wooden stave
2063
Jewish ritual objects
Museum Elisabeth Weeshuis

Reconstruction of provenance history

Vóór mei 1940
: Jewish community (collection), Culemborg
:
: Museum inventory; Museum Acquisitions 1940-1948 report, Amsterdam, 1999

1940-05
: Given to the museum for safekeeping by Louis de Beer
:
: Museum inventory; Museum Acquisitions 1940-1948 report, Amsterdam, 1999

1940-05 <> heden
: Museum Elisabeth Weeshuis [nl]
:

Current restitution status

No requests

Research findings

This Esther scroll was entrusted with the museum for safekeeping by Louis de Beer, the shamash (caretaker) of the local synagogue; the scroll belonged to Culemborg Jewish community.

In May 1940, Louis de Beer, the shamash (caretaker) of the synagogue in Culemborg, gave this Esther scroll together with other ritual objects to the Oudheidkamer, predecessor of Elisabeth Weeshuis. The previous museum curator states that they were brought for safekeeping. De Beer survived the war and lived in Culemborg until his death the 1960s. Culemborg Jewish community was dissolved in 1947. No record exists of the museum contacting De Beer to return the objects or to acquire them as a gift. The objects are mentioned in the Museum Acquisitions 1940-1948 report (Amsterdam 1999).