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Explore the Torah

Explore the pages of an authentic Torah scroll gifted to Evangel University by Ken and Barb Larson, founders of God’s Ancient Library. The 19th century scroll survived the Holocaust in Eastern Europe and is now available to students as a learning and research resource.

The Torah’s History

The Torah is a Hebrew scroll that includes the first five books of the Old Testament as written by Moses and provides the foundation for Jewish life and worship.

Though its complete history is not known, Dr. Scott Carroll, an ancient/medieval manuscript specialist who consulted with the Larsons, believes the Torah received by Evangel almost certainly originated in Eastern Europe (Poland) approximately 125-200 years ago.

Following the Holocaust of World War II, Jewish immigrants discovered the scroll and transported it to Israel.

After being declared pasul (no longer kosher due to age and damage), it became part of the ben-David family private collection of Torah scrolls, one of the largest collections in the world, before being acquired by the Larsons and gifted to Evangel.

Barb and Ken Larson (left) present the Torah to Dr. Michael Kolstad, V.P. of advancement for Evangel University (second from right) and Dr. Vince Medina, professor of Old Testament.

Torah Pages

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy