Obj. ID: 5715
Sacred and Ritual Objects Dedicatory plaque, Verroia, 1889
The bulb-shaped plaque with a multifoil top encloses a medallion in the centre of its lower section. The medallion is inscribed with a Hebrew dedicatory inscription, framed by a protruding round strip with wavy rims and by a strip of petals. The inscription, written on paper in six lines in square, linear letters and covered with glass, reads:
"זה/ הקדיש הר' יצחק/ המ' (המכונה) בכור צרפתי הי''ו (ה' יחיהו וישמרהו)/ שנת התרמ''ט ליציר' (ליצירה)/ יזכה לשנים רבות/ אמן/ כי''ר (כן יהי רצון)."
"This )plaque( was dedicated by the Rabbi Isaac known as Bekhor (first-born son) Zorfati, may the Lord sustain and protect him. The year 5649 (1889) for the Creation, may He grant him for many years, amen, may it be His will."
The medallion is mounted over a symmetrical scrolled stem, while the upper part of the plaque is decorated with small open flowers.
A suspension loop with a ring is attached to the top of the plaque. An additional loop for chains and bells is at its lower left side.
7 image(s)
sub-set tree:
These dedicatory plaques indicate that despite the fact that the largest community in Veroia was Sephardi a small Romaniot community likely existed in the city, which was reinvigorated by Jews who immigrated from Thessalia especially from Trikala and Larissa during the 19th century. It is probable that they were acquainted with the custom of donating shadai'ot. Although the connection between this small group of plaques and the Romaniot custom of dedicating shadai'ot has not yet been firmly established it is possible that they reflect the influence of the Romaniot custom.
The plaque was rescued from the Veroia Synagogue and transferred to the Museum on 20.03.79.
- Amar, Ariella, and Irina Chernetsky. The Collection of the Jewish Museum of Greece.Jerusalem: The Center for Jewish Art, TheHebrewUniversity ofJerusalem, 2007. Internal publication.
- Rivlin, Bracha. Pinkas ha-Kehilot: Greece.Jerusalem: Yad Vashem,1999. In Hebrew.
- Stavroulakis, N. P. Jewish Sites and Synagogues in Greece. Athens: Talos Press, 1992.