Obj. ID: 9154
  Sacred and Ritual Torah Ark curtain, Israel/Eretz Israel, 1970
The rectangular Torah curtain is divided into equal lower and upper parts.
The lower part bears an a sacred facade (islamic pray niche - Mihrab). The niche bears a triangular arch and two columns at the sides. A rounded lamp is hanged from the top of the arch. The niche is decorated with several floral motives. A dedicatory inscription, forming a closed semi circle around the lamp, appears in the niche. It is written from right to left in square filled letters, it reads:
“The late with days and years cut off Luna Shalom the daughter of Vida/
May she rest in Eden, 30 of Teshrey (5)678=3.10.1917
May her soul be bound up in the bond of life/”
The Star of David appears under the inscription.
The upper part bears a depiction of the Dome of Rock. Two symmetrical inscriptions flank the dome of the Dome of Rock. They are written in square filled letters from right to left. In the right side the inscription reads:
“For the exaltation of the soul of/
Moshe Shalom the son of Miriam/
May he rest in Eden 26 on Kislew/
The year (5)677=8.12.1916”/
In the left side the inscription reads:
“And for the exaltation of the soul of/
Vida the wife of Moshe Shalom/
May he rest in Eden, 28 on Tishrey/
The year (5)677=13.10.1916”/
An arch-shaped inscription appears above the dome of the Dome of Rock, connecting the inscriptions on the sides. It is written in square filled letters from right to left and reads:
“A donation of Izhak Shalom”
The inscription is surmounted by the words, written in square filled letters, one word on each side: “Dedication to the Lord”.
The Dome of Rock is covered with rectangular frame terminating with semi circular arch. The Tables of the Covenant appear in the arch. They bear the first ten letters of the Hebrew alphabet, five on each side. Two Stars of David bearing inscription “Zion” flank the Tables of the Covenant. The crown surmounts the Tables of the Covenant. A dedicatory inscription is depicted below. It is written in square letters from right to left, it reads:
“For the exaltation of the soul of Rivka the daughter of Asteria the wife of Izhak Shalom may the Lord sustain and protect him/
Passed away on 22 of Nissan, the year (5)730=28.4.1970/
And for the exaltation of the soul of my brother Ben-Zion Shalom the son of Vida/
Passed away on 26 of Kislew, the year (5)701=26.12.1940/
May his soul be bound up in the bond of life”/
Two branches with flower flank the inscription.
The curtain is framed by a pattern which consists of three bands: two identical narrow strips bearing floral motif and a wide band between them. The band depicts a decoration of foliate rhombs alternating with narrow vertical strips with small flowers.