Download Wimpel of Louis Grafenberg

Torah wrapper or wimpel
The Torah wrapper (Yiddish ‫ווימפל‬, wimpel, Hebrew ‫מפה‬, mappah), is made of a long strap of
white linen. It is painted in different hues of blue, red, green and orange. What instantly
catches ones eye is the Hebrew inscription painted lengthwise on the cloth in vivid colors:
‫ל תלצז טבת כד א יום טכ נלד נתן יעקב הכ בן זעלג האמכוננה חיים הקתן‬
‫סלה אמן טובים ולמעשים ולחופה לתורה יגדלהו ה‬
​
“Little Hayim, called Sel(i)g, son of the h(onorable) M(ister) Jacob Nathan, b(o)rn (under an)
a(uspicious) s(tar) (on) S(unday), 24th Tewet 597 a(ccording to minor reckoning). (May)
HaShem let him grow up to a life of Torah, Huppah (i.e. marriage) and to good deeds. Amen
Selah.”
Little Hayim, or Selig as he was called, was born on the 1st of January, 1837 according to the
Gregorian calendar in the little town of Adelebsen near Göttingen. In the civil registry office
Hayim Selig was registered as Louis Gräfenberg, son of Nathan Gräfenberg.
The wimpel, affectionately painted, shows many symbols: flowers that adorn every single
letter, even a basket overflowing with flowers, a symbol of growth and beauty. A fish as part
of the Hebrew letter nun – which literally means fish and at the same time symbolizes fertility.
We can see a Torah scroll, a wedding canopy, and various trees – the symbols for a pious life,
a happy marriage and strength. The particular mélange of words and symbols on this fine
example of Jewish folk art assert the birth of Hayim Selig and constitute the manifold wishes
for his future wellbeing in a somewhat sober and cheerful way at the same time. It is 327 cm
long and 20 cm wide. Its inventory number is 1917/335.18 respectively J 26.
The wimpel was used in the synagogue of Adelebsen. This rural commune with a massy
medieval castle in its center was called the “Jerusalem of Southern Lower Saxony” because of
the large and old Jewish community that inhabited the town for centuries. Wimpel were made
of circumcision diapers and were given to the synagogue to be used as wrappers for the Torah
scroll. As a ritual object it represented the binding of the newborn boy to the precepts of the
Torah and into the Jewish community. The wimpel is a unique feature of Ashkenazi Judaism.
It is found in Western Ashkenaz areas like the Netherlands, Alsace, Germany, Bohemia and
Moravia. Today the custom of wimpel making seems to become more and more popular
among Jewish communities in the US where it is opened up to new interpretations and
practitioners. It is no longer limited to male Jews for instance; Jewish girls can get a wimpel,
too.
The wimpel was bought by the Museum in December, 1917 from L. Nathan who was a
teacher at the Jewish School in Adelebsen together with 19 other wimpel from Adelebsen.