Obj. ID: 36509  Alms box, Turkey, circa 1870

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

Charity for many different purposes was regularly collected at prayers and at life cycle events for the Jewish community. Such donations were typically collected in some sort of container that was often engraved with an inscription in Hebrew. Where a metal charity container was used in the Ottoman Empire, this barrel shape is the typical Turkish form.  An inscription is engraved on the front with the names of the leaders of the holy society which this container served and to which it was donated by them.

Inscription:  Uriel Mazaramis(?), may the Lord protect and sustain him,       Perez Reuven, may the Lord protect and sustain him,        Yitzhak Rousso, may the Lord protect and sustain him,  who have donated this community charity container