Old Hebrew Bible, stolen by Nazis, is returned to Vienna’s Jewish community in NYC ceremony

Hebrew Bible stolen by Nazis being sent to Vienna

NEW YORK — A 16th century Hebrew Bible looted by the Nazis has been returned to Vienna’s Jewish community.

The Bible was turned over by U.S. officials during a New York City repatriation ceremony on Monday.

The two-volume Bible was published in Venice in the early 1500s. It had been donated to the Vienna Jewish community library in 1908.

The Nazis confiscated it in 1938, and it wound up in Berlin.

The U.S. attorney’s office and immigration officials say the Bible had been offered for sale in June by a New York City auction house specializing in rare books. The auctioneer had been unaware of its history and withdrew it from the sale.