HSI Recovers Long Lost Jewish Text after World War II Disappearance
Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) helped recover a 16th century Hebrew religious text, that had disappeared from Hungary during World War II and was put up for sale by a bookseller in New York City.
The text in question was originally printed by Giovanni di Gara, a Venetian printer of Hebrew books in the 16th century. The so-called Di Gara text is composed of two works from the Jewish faith: the Chamisa Humshe Torrah (Five Books of Moses), or the Jewish Torrah in book form, and the Haftarot, a series of selections from the Hebrew Bible.
In the 1800s, the collection came into the possession of Italian Jewish scholar and rabbi Lelio Della Torre. After Della Torre’s death in 1877, the text was sold to the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary.
In 1944, during World War II, Nazi forces invaded Budapest and looted and occupied the seminary. The Di Gara text disappeared during that time.
It remained missing for decades until Hungarian officials tipped off U.S. officials that they noticed what could be the book on AbeBooks, a rare bookselling website. After confirming the authenticity, HSI special agents questioned the bookseller, who said he came into possession of the book in the 1980s and was unaware of its history. The bookseller said he was willing to give it up if served with valid legal process.
On October 4, 2024, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres confirmed the text was forfeited and is headed back home to Hungary.
Since 2009, HSI has repatriated over 20,000 religious and cultural objects to more than 40 countries worldwide.
HSI says members of the public who have information about the illicit distribution of cultural property or illegal artwork trafficking should call the toll-free HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP.