The eternal scripture - A Torah for Dresden

At a time when religious, cultural and social certainties were being shaken worldwide, the Jüdische Kultusgemeinde of Dresden set a remarkable example: on 21 August 2025, The Eternal Scripture – A Torah for Dresden launched a project that was spiritual, educational and social at the same time – and unprecedented in this form throughout Europe.

KI generiert: Das Bild zeigt einen Mann, der konzentriert mit einer Feder auf einer Schriftrolle schreibt. Er trägt eine Kippa und arbeitet unter einer Tischlampe.

Yhoshua Ze'ev beim Schreiben | Foto: © Heike Antoci

At the centre is a process that is extraordinary in every respect: the complete writing process of a Sefer Torah – the handwritten scroll of the five books of Moses – is being made visible to the public. In a specially designed glass writing pavilion on the forecourt of the Dresden City Museum, a work that is considered sacred in Jewish tradition will be created over a period of 18 months – and will now become an opportunity for exchange, learning and shared experience. Here, a Sofer Stam – a trained scribe of sacred texts – writes on kosher parchment according to the traditional rules of halacha, letter by letter, with the utmost precision and deep mental concentration. An act that otherwise takes place in secret thus becomes a cultural event that involves the urban community – as witnesses, questioners and participants.

Yehoshua Ze‘ev SAkiva Weingarten Foto Heike Antoci 200

Yehoshua Ze'ev und Akiva Weingarten | Foto: © Heike Antoci

Writing as a cultural technique – and as a bridge

This project is not a mere ritual ceremony, but a far-reaching cultural endeavour. »Eternal Writing« questions the meaning of writing itself – as the oldest cultural technique of mankind. Writing, it becomes clear here, is not just the production of text, but the ordering of the world, the attempt to capture the divine, the social, the knowable.

In Dresden, the city of books, archives and museum spaces, this practice becomes the occasion for a public educational space: accompanying exhibitions, school programmes, lectures, discussion series and interactive formats involve the public – from school classes and cultural workers to interested passers-by. At the same time, the Torah as an ethical and symbolic document takes centre stage: a text that has shaped European, Jewish and intercultural discourse for thousands of years – and can be re-read today as an impetus for tolerance, democracy and cultural memory.

Photo: © Heike Antoci

Jahna Dahms, curator of the project

"This project is more than just writing a sacred scroll. It is a living cultural process. The Torah appears here as a testimony to traditional forms of culture, identity and dignity that have endured over long periods of time. In lectures, guided tours, workshops and exhibitions, we open up these spaces of tradition and create a dialogue between cultures and people. This creates a place where the continuities of the past and the present come together - visibly, comprehensibly and for everyone to experience."

Die Schreiberin Liora Mendez vor dem Pavillon | Foto: © Heike Antoci

A transition in the writing process of the Dresden Torah

With the change of scribe, a new phase begins in the Torah project of the Jüdische Kultusgemeinde Dresden: Joshua Dias, a trained librarian, has written the first book of the Torah, Bereshit (Genesis), with exceptional accuracy and dedication, and will leave Dresden to continue his academic work at the Jewish Studies Department of Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, while at the same time completing the book he has begun.

Since 2 November 2025, Liora Mendez, soferet-to-be, has been continuing the writing process in the pavilion. In the liberal Jewish tradition, women can also be Torah scribes, and the fact that the Dresden Torah is written jointly by a woman and a man symbolises equality, diversity and the vibrancy of Jewish life in the Jewish Community of Dresden.

The Jüdische Kultusgemeinde Dresden is proud of Joshua Dias and thanks him warmly for his dedicated work, his perseverance and his spiritual depth.

»With The Eternal Scripture, we are bringing a central part of our faith into the public eye. This Torah is not written in secret, but in the centre of the city - for all to see. At a time of social tensions surrounding Jewish life worldwide, this is a sign that we are proud of our Judaism and will continue to live our traditions openly and without fear.«

— Akiva Weingarten, Rabbi of the Free State of Saxony, Rabbi of the Jüdische Kultusgemeinde Dresden

AI generated: The image shows a section of a Hebrew scroll with a silver pointer pointing to the writing. A colourfully decorated cloth is visible in the background.

Torah and Torah pointer | Photo: © Rotislav Komitov

A window into history – and into the present

The architecture of the pavilion itself symbolises the aim: a large display window allows an insight into the writing process at all times. What used to take place inside the synagogue is now visible in the centre of the city. The process is accompanied by live broadcasts, guided tours and talks.

The first letter was written in Dresden City Hall on 21 August 2025 - in an act that is both symbolic and real: the City Hall, a place of municipal self-government, thus became the threshold of a transcultural project. The writing pavilion was officially opened on the same evening.

Religion as part of urban society

For the Jewish Community of Dresden, the project is more than just a symbolic act. It is a public commitment to the visibility of Jewish life in the city - not as folklore or a retrospective, but as a present, forward-looking practice.

"The Eternal Scripture" is understood in three dimensions:

as a cultural project that places the Torah in the context of written culture and world cultural heritage, as a democracy project that provides education against anti-Semitism and creates spaces for encounters, as an expression of Jewish life that is open, plural and open to dialogue.

The project forms the conceptual framework for a large number of accompanying exhibitions, events and educational formats. It was developed in close cooperation with the Jewish Community of Dresden. Special thanks go to our co-operation partner, the Dresden City Museum. Its commitment makes visible what cultural responsibility can mean today: remembering together, shaping together.

The result is a project that builds bridges - between religion and the public, between past and present, between people.

The writer needs peace and concentration while working on the Torah.
Please take this into consideration and allow her to work undisturbed.
Thank you very much for your understanding.

The curator offers talks and information on selected dates. These can be found in our calendar of events. Please send enquiries about themed tours for school classes, groups and institutions to info@jk-dresden.de

Exhibition dates

Sun / 14. Dec

16:00

AI generated: The image shows a person working over a large document at a desk, illuminated by a lamp. She is concentrating on writing or editing the document.

The eternal scripture – A Torah for Dresden

Curator's tour with Jahna Dahms and ceremonial start to Hanukkah

Guided tour followed by a ceremonial start to Hanukkah and the lighting of the first candle, with tea and biscuits

Introduction to the project: What is a Torah? Why has it been written by hand for over 2500 years?

In around 35 minutes, Jahna Dahms explains the project and talks about the origin, tradition and significance of the Torah as the oldest continuous cultural technique of mankind. Questions can be asked afterwards. The scribe will be present during the event.

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Free entry

Sun / 21. Dec

14:00