Obj. ID: 19246
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Torah finials, Afghanistan, 19??

The silver pear-shaped rimonim each consist of a shaft, a body and an apex.

The cylindrical, tapering shaft is encircled by a ring at each end. It is decorated with vertical strips of a foliate pattern alternating with plain strips. Two horizontal bands, one at the top and one at the base, are decorated with a floral pattern. A compressed, globular capital surmounts the shaft. It is decorated with medallions bearing flowers and geometrical patterns. Chains with drop-shaped bells are attached to the medallions. The body base is decorated with vertical bands bearing a floral pattern alternating with bonds of a dedicatory inscription engraved in linear letters. The body is composed of two parts joined with a hinge. A band of hearts encircles the border of the upper part. Chains carring drop-shaped bells are attached to the border of the lower part. The border of each half is decorated with a floral band. Pointed arched cartouches appear above the bands. Between them there are cartouches decorated with floral patterns and inscriptions. The inscriptions read from the bottom of rimon A (left) to the bottom of rimon B (right); and continue from top of rimon A to top of rimon B: ##Bottom part of rimon A: !אני לדודי ועלי תשוקתו ## אבג יתצ! (Cant.7:11) !תורת יהוה תמימה משיבת ## נפש קרט )קרע(! (Ps.19:8) !עדות יהוה נאמנה מחכימת ## פתי שטן! (Ps.19:8) Bottom part of rimon B: ! הנחמדים מזהב ומפז רב ומתוקים מדבש ## נג!ד יכ!ש! (Ps.19:11) !ונופת צופים לישועתך קוויתי יהוה ## נ)ב(ט!ר! PS. 19:11, followed by Gen. 49:18 !כתפוח בעצי היער כן דודי בן הבנים ## צתג ## חק בטנ ## ע (Cant.2:3) All the inscriptions end with three of the 42 letter- name. Top of rimon A: !שמע ישראל יהוה אלוהינו יהוה אחד יגל! Deut. 6:4, followed by three letters of the 42 letter-name. !ואהבת את ה' אלוהיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך ## ובכל מאודך! (Deut.6:5) !כי קרוב אליך הרבה מאד בפיך! (Deut.30:14) ##Top part of rimon B: !תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת ## יה יעקב ! (Deut.33:4) !יקרה מפנינים וכל חפצים לא ישוו ## ילי בה ! (Prov. 3:15) !כי לוית )חן( וחותם לראשך וענקים ## )לגורגרותיך( לגרגרתו! (Prov. 1:9) In the first two inscriptions,letters of the 72 letter name are added. The inscription on the body base of rimon B reads: !פו!ק ## שקו## צית ## בשכמלו! 42 letter-name The bud-shaped apex is decorated with a whorl of petals and surmounts a floral disk. Chains attached to the points of the disk carry droped-shaped bells. The dedicatory inscription on the body base of rimon A reads:

!לבית הכנסת ## ב!ז בנימין א' )ארה( יוסף וחי )וחיה( ##הקדישו הקהל ## לכל כופף!

!To the synaguoge ## ?? Benjamin Joseph and Haya ## was dedicated by the congregation ## to all?!