Home
Object Alone

Obj. ID: 1300
  Sacred and Ritual
  Shadai'a (Dedicatory Plaque), Greece, Thessaly, early 20th century

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Radovan, Zev, 09.1993

The rectangular plaque, with curved edges is inscribed with a dedication engraved in Hebrew square letters, which reads:

"'(אל) שדי'/ הקדש/ ק"ק גד/ וש (גדול) יב"ץ (יראה בנחמת ציון; ברכת המזון) מה/ יקר הר' יום/ טוב עטיאס/ הי"ו (ה' יחיהו וישמרהו)."

"'(El) Shadai' (God Almighty), a dedication made to the Great Holy Congregation (Remarks: no. 1), 'May we would gain to see the redemption ofZion' (Based on the Benediction over the meal), by the dear Rabbi Yom Tov Atias, May the Lord sustain and protect him."

A Star of David is engraved on the back of the plaque

Online collection of the ritual objects from the E. Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute is available here: http://cbj.jhi.pl/collections/964689

Summary and Remarks

1. The Hebrew words are separated in a wrong sequence, sometimes separated in the middle of the word. The word Kadosh (Holy) is spelled as the local pronunciation, replacing Ka withGa.

Remarks

sub-set tree:  

Object Detail
Monument Setting
Unknown
Date
Early 20th century
Active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
6 image(s)    items per page

6 image(s)    items per page
Iconographical Subject
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
Material / Technique
Silver
Structure: cut
Decoration: engraved
Bonding: none
Inscription: engraved
Material Stucture
cut
Material Decoration
engraved
Material Bonding
none
Material Inscription
engraved
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height: 90 mm
Width: 50 mm
Height
90 mm
Length
50 mm
Width
50 mm
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition

Intact

Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
0
Ornamentation
Custom
This silver dedicatory plaque is part of a group of unique sacred objects known as shadai'ot (shadai'a in singular). The custom of donating these plaques is common among the Greek Romaniot communities. The name shadai'a is derived from God’s name, "?? ???" (El Shadai = God Almighty) - which usually heads the dedicatory inscription. The plaque is also called a "takhshit," namely an ornament, which adorns the Torah, a term often inscribed on the plaques.
The custom of donating silver plaques as sacred objects is unique to these communities. Some inscriptions do reveal that occasionally they were donated with other ritual objects, such as a Torah scroll, a parokhet, or a mappah.
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources

Amar, Ariella, "Sacrificial donations among the Romaniot Jews," Studia Rosenthaliana  45 (2014): 91-114
• Ariella, Amar, and Irina Chernetsky. Shadai'ot: The Collection of the Jewish Museum Of Greece. Jerusalem: The Center for Jewish Art, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2006. • Ariella, Amar. "Re-Reading an Ancient Community: Special Donations among the Romaniot Jews." Studia Rosenthaliana, edited by Naomi Feuchtwanger-Sarig. Forthcoming.
Type
Documenter
Gioia Perugia Sztulman | 09.1992
Author of description
Ariella Amar | 01.10
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
|
Section Head
Ariella Amar | 01.10
Language Editor
Dvora Sax | 03.10
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed:
Unknown |