Katrina leaves torahs untouched;
rescuers take Jewish texts to safety
By VICKI FERSTEL
Assistant metro editor

The sacred word of God -- lovingly hand-inscribed in classical Hebrew on scrolls of parchment -- was rescued Saturday from Jewish synagogues in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish.

Some of the 25 tempest-tossed torahs and other ritual objects made their way to Baton Rouge's Beth Shalom Synagogue on Jefferson Highway just as lay-led morning prayers had ended on the Jewish day of rest.

The rest