994 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



the reader from losing the place. It is usually made in the shape of a 

 hand, hence its Hebrew name. 



Silver breastplate of the Torah.— On the top are the two 

 tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments, surmounted by the 

 *'crown of the law" upheld by two lions, the symbol of the tribe of 

 Judah. Inside the tablets are engraved, on a sliding plate, the names 

 of the various festivals. (See plate 15.) The manuscript copy of the 

 Pentateuch, or the Sefer Torah, being the most precious object used in 

 Jewish ceremonies, is, when not in use, covered with a mantle of costly 

 material, sometimes. adorned with a breastplate, bells, or crown, and 

 put upright in the "holy ark" {aron ha-hodesh). 



Veil of the Holy Ark (Parocheth). — Made in Constantinople, 

 Turkey. (See plate 16.) The border of green velvet is embroidered in 

 gold and silver with flowers. The center, of red velvet, has in the four 

 corners, in Hebrew, the names of the four archangels, Eaphael, Gabriel, 

 Uriel, and Michael. On the top are the words, "But the Lord is in His 

 holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him,"' and "I have 

 set the Lord always before me."^ Below is a burning lamp hanging 

 down by chains, symbolizing the light which emanates from the law of 

 God. On the sides are the words, "This is the gate of the Lord; the 

 righteous shall enter into it." ^ In the Holy Ark [aron ha-Jcodesh) are 

 kept the scrolls of the law, or the Pentateuch, written on parchment, 

 for use in the service of the synagogue. The " Holy Ark " is, therefore, 

 the most important part of the synagogue, and is richly adorned. 

 Whenever it is opened the congregation rises in reverence for the Law 

 of God it contains. 



Sabbath lamp. — Used by the German Jews in their houses. It 

 was manufactured in the eighteenth century in Fellheim, Germany. 

 (See plate 17, fig. 1.) The celebration of the Sabbath is ushered in on 

 its eve (Friday evening) by the housewife lighting candles, reciting 

 the words, "Blessed art Thou, Lord, our God, King of the World, who 

 hath commanded us to light the light of the Sabbath." After that no 

 fire may be handled until the following evening. 



KiDDUSH CLOTH. — Silk. Containing in beadwork the tablets of the 

 decalogue in Hebrew, supported by lions. Above are the words, 

 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."^ Before the principal 

 meals of the Sabbath and other feast days the Jews have a special 

 service, including prayers over the wine and bread, which is known as 

 Kiddush, or "sanctification." The head of the family has in front of 

 him a plate containing two loaves of bread, covered by a cloth. The 

 practice of saying a blessing before eating is referred to in I Samuel 

 ix, 13. It no doubt had its origin in the fact that a public meal of any 

 sort was usually preceded by a sacrifice. "Asking the blessing" was 



1 Habakkuk ii, 20. s Psalms cxvii, 20. 



2 Psalms xvi, 8. •'Exodus xx, 8. 



