Obj. ID: 565
Sacred and Ritual Objects Torah case, Iraq, 1847
The wooden Torah case consists of a body and a crown.
The cylindrical body is covered with silver sheets decorated with foliate cartouches network each bearing a vase with flowers. The upper and lower borders are encircled by friezes bearing a dedicatory inscription. The body's upper border is surmounted by a lily-like crenellation.
The case is opened by two silver hook clasps. There are two pairs of hinges at the back. The inner face is covered with floral pattern brocade. The onion-shaped crown consists of a main section, a crest, and an apex.
The main section is covered with silver sheets, decorated with foliate patterns.
The undulating crest is mounted over the crown. The crest is decorated with strips of a foliate pattern alternating with plain strips. A wide ring bearing an oval pattern encircles its centre. The crest is surmounted by a bud-shaped apex. Ten rings are fixed around the centre of the crest, carrying chains with slit, drop-shaped bells.
Two iron rimon mounts are fixed on the crown.
Two painted mirrors bearing dedicatory inscriptions are attached to the crown's inner face. The mirrors are decorated with floral motifs, and the inscription appears in arches. below them are two strips of the inscription written on paper in filled letters and reads:
"...המרוחם דוד...דוד /...יום י"ז ל..."
Translation: ...Who has found mercy David...David / ...17th of ...."
The dedicatory inscription on the body starts at the upper border. It is chaised in filled letters and reads from the front of the case:
"תיק זה וספר תורה שבו עשו אותו בניו למנו'(=למנוחת) אביהם / המ'(המנוח) דוד ראובן דוד מנחם נ"ע(=נוחו עדן) תנצבה(=תהיה נשמתו צרורה בצרור החיים) שנת תר"ז"
Translation: This case and the Torah Scroll inside it is made by his son for the repose of (Int.) his father The Late (Int.) David Reuben David Menahem May he rest in Eden (Int.) May his soul be bound up in the bond of life (Int.) The year (5)607 (=1847)
The inscription continues on the lower border, reading from the front:
"על מנת בכל מקום שנירצו בעלי ס"ת(=ספר תורה) הנ"ל(=הנזכר למעלה) להוצי(א) / ולהניחוהו למקומת אחרים הרשב"י(=הרשות בידם) וביבכ"ח(=ובידי באי כוחם)"
Translation: For anywhere that the owners of this Torh would like to take / and put it in other places they and their attorneys have the permission (Int.)
The dedicatory inscription upon the inner face of the crown is written in filled letters, on six lines, and reads from the right:
"וזאת / התורה אשר / שם משה לפנב'(=לפני בני)/ ישראל אלה החקי'(ם) / והמשפטים והתו'(רה) / אשר נתן ה' (דברים ד,מד-מה)" [Deut. 4:44-45[
Continues on the left side of the crown:
"תיק / זה וס"ת(וספר תורה) שבו / עשו אותו בניו/ למנו'(=למנוחת) אביהם המ'(=המנוח) / דוד ראובן דוד / מנחם תנצבה(=תהיה נשמתו צרורה בצרור החיים)"
Translation: This case / and the Torah scroll (Int.) inside it / is made by His son / for the repose (Int.) of his father The Late (Int.) / David Reuben David / Menahem May his soul be bound up in the bond of life (Int.)