Obj. ID: 39228  Shabbat and Holiday Challah Cover, Germany, 1875

The following description was prepared by William Gross:     

Sabbath Challah covers must have been in use for many years since the last half of the 19th century, but few early pieces have survived. This is one of the earliest dated textiles of this sort, dated to 1875, a date that sets it apart from almost all other Shabbat clothes. It was originally a larger piece of cloth, but it has been cut and resewn using the original pieces and resulting in a smaller size. The inscription is also unusual in that instead of a presentation of the blessings it carries the command to make the Challah blessing on two loaves, something that is of utmost rarity in such textiles.     

Inscription:  Be-Shabbat Chayav Benadam le-Bitzua'.......... Sarah R Z.