Obj. ID: 554
Sacred and Ritual Torah case, Libya, 1915
The wooden Torah case consists of a twelve-faceted body and a coronet. The body is made of plain wood.
Two pairs of round annulets encircle the upper and lower borders of the body. 13 brass buttons are attached to the upper border, between the two annulets. Pointed trefoil arch-shaped silver plaques are attached to the centre of the case opening. They bear a dedicatory inscription within a horseshoe arch outlined in zigzag lines, surmounted by a foliate pattern. The case is closed by a silver clasp set on floral plaques. The clasp is chased with a leaf pattern.
Two pairs of metal hinges are attached to the back of the case. The inner face is plain wood. The hollow has hand holders, and is decorated with three holes on each side of the bottom, and six holes on each side of the top. Two insert holes for the rods are at top of the case. The coronet has twelve facets. Each facet is decorated with an openwork, lily-like pattern. The dedicatory inscription is engraved in outline letters, and reads horizontally. The first line, inscribed within the horseshoe arch, reads across both sides of the plaque and says:
זאת / התורה
Translation: This is the Torah
The inscription continues on the right hand plaque:
"זכה וברה##מפנינים יקרה##אשר עשה ה"ר##כמוס בוטביקה##ה"יו לשם בתו"
Translation: Worthy and chosen##more precious than pearls##that was made by the Rabbi##Camos Butbika##may the Lord sustain and protect him, in the name of his daughter
The inscription continues on the left-hand plaque:
" ליזה נ"ע ולשם##אשתו סעירה נ"ע##נגמר בחדש סיון##המקודש שנת##ה'ת'ר'ע'ה"
Translation: Lizah, may she rest in Eden, and to the name of ##his wife Se'irah,(Sa'idah?) may she rest in Eden##completed in the holy month of Sivan##the year##5675 (1915)
