From Holocaust Survival to Restoring Ancient Torah Scrolls: The Story of Reuven Campanino

Reuven Campanino was born in Italy to his father Shaul, who was murdered in the Holocaust, and to his mother, who survived together with him while they were hidden by Righteous Among the Nations. After immigrating to Israel and building a family, he enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces and was discharged with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He later returned to his country of birth as an emissary for Bnei Akiva, working within the Jewish communities there.

As part of his work in Italy, Reuven discovered that many Torah scrolls from the war years were lying unused in basements. Determined that they should not remain neglected, he decided to learn from a certified Torah scribe how to restore damaged Torah scrolls.

He eventually reached an agreement with communities and synagogues: he would restore the scrolls and send them to communities in Israel so they could be used again, while leaving one Torah scroll in each community.

A Four Hundred Year Old Scroll from Alexandria

When he arrived at the Jewish community in Alexandria, where his grandfather had served as the community’s rabbi, Reuven asked to dedicate a Torah scroll in memory of his grandfather and his father, who were murdered in the Holocaust. According to estimates, the scroll he received from the community had been written more than four hundred years ago. That scroll remains with Campaniano to this day.

A Living Legacy for Future Generations

The Torah scroll, which is usually kept in Reuven’s home in Jerusalem, is lent out for various events. One of the most moving aspects of its story is that all of his grandchildren, wherever they live in Israel, are given the opportunity at their bar mitzvah to read from this ancient restored scroll, dedicated to the memory of their ancestors who did not live to see future generations grow and build families in the Land of Israel.

One of the most recent grandchildren to read from the scroll is named Amos Shaul, after Reuven’s father, Shaul. Amos Shaul was born in the month of Iyar 5770, exactly one hundred years after his great grandfather Shaul, who was murdered by the Nazis. In this way, Reuven felt he had closed a small circle in preserving his father’s memory.

Bringing Torah Scrolls Home to Israel

“As a Bnei Akiva emissary in Italy, the work constantly balances between encouraging aliyah to Israel and strengthening local Jewish community life,” Campaniano shared. “But when it came to bringing Torah scrolls to Israel, there was no dilemma. The place of the scrolls, like the place of the Jewish people, should be in the Land of Israel.”

“Two mitzvot are especially dear to me: the mitzvah of settling the Land of Israel and the mitzvah of writing a Torah scroll. I was privileged to fulfill both together through the special project of returning Torah scrolls from exile to Israel, fulfilling the teaching that in the future, synagogues and study halls from the Diaspora will be established in the Land of Israel.”

Recognition from Jerusalem’s Leadership

When Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion heard the story, he was deeply moved. “The inspiring Torah scrolls found in Jerusalem are part of the unique character of our city. Reuven’s scroll carries with it an ancient and powerful tradition, and it is a great privilege for us in Jerusalem to have such a Torah scroll. I wish everyone a joyful festival and a happy Simchat Torah.”