Obj. ID: 39243  Tefillin bag, Aleppo, 1906

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

Religious Jews put on Tefilin - phylacteries - every weekday morning and they were carried to the synagogue for this purpose. To make this transport easier and to protect the Holy objects, the Tefilin were usually placed in a container, most often fashioned from some sort of textile. Such was the custom in most countries where Jews lived.

According to the family name, Adas, embroidered in gold thread, this Tefilin bag may well have originated in Aleppo, Syria. Its shape and design are very reminiscent of such objects from both Morocco and Algeria. the dark velvet, the shiny gold thread and the yellow silk extension above make this a colorful and elegant container to carry to the synagogue. Inscription: Servant of the Lord, Eliyahu Adas, May the Lord sustain him and bless him. The second day of Chanukah in the year 5667 [1907}