Obj. ID: 36851  Torah case, Syria, 1900

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

In the Ashkenazi and Sephardi tradition, the Torah Scroll is protected when not being read by a textile covering, often very beautifully embroidered. In the Mizrachi and Romaniote traditions, the Sefer Torah is generally not robed in a mantle but rather housed in an ornamental wooden case which protects the scroll, called a "tik".

The Tikim - Torah Cases - from each country have their own characteristics, both in terms of decorative effects and motifs and in terms of proportions. While those of Syria, such as this one, resemble those of Iraq, they are less elegantly proportioned and the silver decorations applied to the velvet are different as well. They are generally no fully covered in silver as are most of those with an origin in Iraq. In general, the delicacy of the workmanship on the silver is of a lesser sort on the Syrian Tikim. Since the size of the Syrian community was smaller than that of Iraq, the Syrian model is of course somewhat rarer.

Inscription:

Around the top rim: This Tik and the Sefer Torah within it are for the exaltation of the soul of the honorable, modest ??? Mrs. Seniora Dinah, the wife of the deceased gentleman ??? Yehezkiel Tzalach Matalon, May his soul rest in Eden, the year (5)660 [1900]

Inside on glass panels:

Right side: The Ten Commandments

Left Side: And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel. These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances which Moses spoke unto the children of Israel [on Mount Sinai] (Deuteronomy 4:44, 45)