Download Torah mantle (Meil) from the synagogue in Szumsk near Krzemieniec

Torah mantle (Meil) from the synagogue in Szumsk near Krzemieniec
Date of production 1713 Place of creation Poland Dimensions length: 64 cm, width: 48 cm ID no. MNK­XIX­4851 Museum The National Museum in Kraków Oddział Main Building Gallery Gallery of Decorative Art Subjects multiculture, religion Technique silver thread fabric, gold thread embroidery, gold thread embroidery Material silver thread fabric Acquired date purchased from Szymon Rabinowicz from the designated subsidy of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Public Enlightenment in 1938; according to verbal information by the seller, the item comes from the synagogue in Szumsk near Krzemieniec • Object copyright The National Museum in Kraków •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Digital images copyright public domain • Digitalisation RDW MIC, Małopolska's Virtual Museums project • Tags sztuka sakralna, judaika, Żydzi, tkanina, 2D, wielokulturowość, synagoga The cover in the form of an elongated rectangle was hand­sewn of a fabric with a tiny geometrical and floral design. On the obverse, in the cartouche, taking on the form of a laurel wreath, there is an embroidered donative inscription which reads:
‫ז”ל‬ ‫הינדא‬ ‫מרת‬ | ‫צנועה‬ ‫אשה‬ | ‫זנ‬ |
‫לפק‬ ‫תעג‬ | ’‫שנ‬ ‫כץ‬ ‫שמואל‬ ’‫מ‬ | ’‫הג‬ ‫המ‬ ‫הרב‬ ‫בת‬
(“This is a gift from a humble woman, of blessed memory, Hinda, the daughter of the grand rabbi Samuel Kac, in the year (5)473” [=1713].)*
On the two sides of the letters, ‫זנ‬, there are two birds symbolising souls in the Garden of Eden. On the other side of the mantle, the Star of David (Megen David) is sewn, formed of gold and silver bobbin lace.
The rolls onto which the Torah scroll was rolled were put through the two holes in the upper part. The silver and white tones of colours indicate that the mantle was used in the synagogue in the period of the Ten Days of Repentance (Yamim Noraim), connecting the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) with the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). The mantle plays multiple functions: it protects the Torah from being destroyed or stained, and it decorates and secures it from being touched by a bare hand. The scroll itself is compared to the Betrothed and the Queen in a festive attire. Therefore, the cover, sewn of expensive fabrics, decorated with appliqués and finely embroidered, is indented to resemble a royal coat. The act of placing a mantle on the scroll in the synagogue is very ceremonial, being a sign of respect for the teachings and wisdom contained in the Torah.
The item is one of the oldest and most precious Judaica in Poland.
*Translation into Polish by Eugeniusz Duda; English translation based on the Polish text
Elaborated by Anna Lebet­Minakowska (The National Museum in Kraków), © all rights reserved