Obj. ID: 39418
Sacred and Ritual Objects Textile for Bag of Earth of the Holy Land, Jerusalem, circa 1930
The following description was prepared by William Gross:
While death and mourning are not generally considered a subject with a lot of graphic expression, within the Jewish tradition there are quite a few examples. Such things as memorial poems, burial plot receipts, Yahrzeit memorial plaques, etc. gave ample scope for artistic creativity. The customs surrounding this sad time of life gave birth to graphic design.
Traditionally, it has been the dream of every Jew to be buried in Jerusalem. At the beginning of the 20th cenury someone developed an idea for all of those for whom such a buriel was impossible, who were nearly 100% of the Jewish population from that time. This object is a bag of earth, printed with the picture of the holy places: the Kotel, Safed and the Tomb of the Prophet Shmuel. The bag was sent abroad to be placed under the head of a deceased Jew, so that it is as if he were buried in the holy city of Jerusalem. This bag is printed on green cloth and is in the state prior to the sewing of the bag to receive the earth.
Inscription: Amdu Raglav ba-Yom ha-Hu..... Chevrah Kadisha ha-Rashit veha-Klallit le-'Edat ha-Ashkenazim, shames Isaac Nissenboim
sub-set tree:
T | Temple Mount
H | Holy and other places in the Land of Israel | Holy Tombs | Samuel the Prophet, Tomb of
H | Holy and other places in the Land of Israel | Cities | The Four Holy Cities | Safed צפת
H | Holy and other places in the Land of Israel | Holy Tombs | Simeon bar Yohai (Rashbi), Tomb of (קבר רשבי)
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