Obj. ID: 39390
Sacred and Ritual Objects Karaite Torah ark curtain, Evpatoria, circa 1850
The following description was prepared by William Gross:
The parochet (Hebrew: פרוכת) is the curtain that covers the Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark) containing the Torah scrolls in a synagogue. The parochet symbolizes the curtain that covered the Ark of the Covenant, based on Exodus 40:21. "He brought the ark into the Tabernacle and placed the screening dividing curtain so that it formed a protective covering before the Ark..."
This embroidered strip was placed on a large piece of brocade or fine printed fabric that served as a Parochet. This embroidered strip would stretch across the top of the curtain. Such a Parochet exists in the museum of Chachbasaria in the Crimea with an almost identical textile. Karaite textiles are of extreme rarity and basically undocumented.
Inscription: Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no oil (Kohelet 9:8) I will dwell in Thy tent forever; I will take refuge in the covert of They wings (Psalms 61:5) I wiat for Thy Salvation, O Lord (Genesis 49:18)