Img. ID: 343008

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

In the Ashkenazi and Sephardi tradition, the Torah Scroll is protected when not being read by a textile covering, often very beautifully embroidered. In the Mizrachi and Romaniote traditions, the Sefer Torah is generally not robed in a mantle but rather housed in an ornamental wooden case which protects the scroll, called a "tik".

This tik probably originated in Western Iran near Afghanistan, with the similar use of multiple rimmonim on the Tik. The tik has been restored, with a new top finial and some new supports for the six Rimmonim. There are another three Tikim of similar style, construction and decoration know to exist in Israel. This is the earliest of the four Tikim. The use of painted metal for Jewish ritual objects in such striking red and green color is unique to these Torah Tiks. There are two silver metal plaques on the outside of the tik next to the opening, one of which records a dedication to the father, Eliezer, by the son, David. On the inside, there are two painted glass panels, one of which records the same dedication, and the other records a different dedication in the memory of Sarah bat Yosef. It is not clear if these are from the same family.

Inscription:

Outside silver panels:

Right: And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 4:44 ); Moses commanded us a law, An inheritance of the congregation of Ya'akov (Deuteronomy 33:4); the date, the month "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine" (Song of Songs 6:3) (The first letters of each word from the Hebrew yield the month of Elul) according to the minor reckoning.

Left: And this is the Torah that was donated by ?? David son of the deceased Eliezer, May his sould be bound up in the bond of life, for public reading for the exaltation of his soul for his life in the world to come, in the tear (5)621 [1861]

On inside glass: Partial texts from the Torah and Kabbalistic and amuletic "names"