Obj. ID: 1386
Sacred and Ritual Objects Shiviti plaque (Safed, 1900)
The rectangular Shiviti plaque features a central menorah whose seven branches are formed by the text of Psalm 67. At the base sanctuary implements are depicted and identified individually in Hebrew. Topping the composition is an arch framing the large letters of the Tetragrammaton. Forming the side panels, are four framed biblical scenes.
An inscription appears at the upper part of the arch, it reads:
שיויתי יהוה לנגדי תמיד (תהילים טז:ח)
"I have set the Lord always before me" (Ps. 16:8 KJ.).
Another inscription, partially erased, appears at the upper margin of the arch, reads:
כי עמך מקור חיים באורך נראה אור (תהילים כו:י)
"For with thee is the fountain of life : in thy light we shall see light ". (Ps. 36:10 KJ.).
A dedicatory inscription appears beneath the menorah:
מנחה שלוחה לכבוד הגביר המרומם ה"ה / היקר הנעים והנחמד הישר נדיב לב סיניור / חיים בן ראובן הי"ו (האל יחזקהו וישמרהו" אנ"ס (אמן סלה)/ הכותב חאג'י משה בן יצחק תושב עיה"ק (עיר הקודש) צפת ת"ו (תיבנה ותיכונן) / שנת צדיק כתמר יפרח (תהילים צב:יב)
"an offering presented in honour of the man of substance the great Rabbi / The precious, the pleasant, the nice, the honest, the generous signor(?) / Haim son of Reuben may the Lord sustain him and grant him favour Amen, evermore, Selah. / The scribe Haji Moshe son of Itzhak resident of the holy city Safed may it be built and established / the year "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree" (Ps.92:12 K.J.) "[(5)660] = (1900)".
( The date is derived from the Hebrew letters of the word "like the palm tree")
Two panels, one on top of the other, bearing biblical subjects appear on both sides of the menorah. On the right side are depicted with the beneath them. On the left side is depicted with beneath him. The panels are surrounded by a scalloped frame.
Two vases with a central stem from which flowers and leaves spring symmetrically, stand on top of the illustrated panels. Each vase bears a three letter initial.
On the right vase:
לק"י [לישועתך קיויתי יהוה] (בראשית מט:יח)
"I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord" (Gen. 49:18)
On the left vase: לס"י
All the inscriptions are written in square filled letters.
