730 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. VOL. XXXIV. 
accompanied by prayers and benedictions, and, like circumeision, is 
the occasion of a festival. (Cat. No. 156047, U.S.N.M.) : 
129. WRAPPER USED ON THE OCCASION OF CARRYING A CHILD TO SYNA- 
cocun.—Linen with embroidered inscription in Hebrew reading: 
* Jacob, surnamed Kapel, son of Naphthali Shalita, surnamed Hirsh 
Helier, born Wednesday, the 15th of Shebat (January—February) 
5604 (1844). May the Lord let him grow up to the study of the 
Torah, to marriage and good. works. Amen. Selah.” Made in 
France. } | 
Among Jews it is the custom when a child is brought for the first 
time to the synagogue that the father takes it to the desk, where the 
lesson from the Law is read during service, and presents a wrapper 
for the Torah scroll. Length, 9 feet 4 inches; width, 6 inches. 
(Plate XCVIT, Cat. No. 154605, U.S.N.M.) 
Lent by Hadji Ephraim Benouit: 
130. WRAPPER USED ON THE OCCASION OF CARRYING A CHILD TO ee 
cocuE.—Made of white linen, and embroidered in variegated silk 
with figures of plants, birds, and animals, and Hebrew inscription, 
giving the name of the child as Meir, son of Judah Gomperz, born 
5572 A. M. (1812 A. D.). Length, 12 feet; width, 74 inches. (Cat. 
No. 4555, U.S.N.M.) 
Lent by Hadji Ephraim Benguiat. 
131. WRAPPER USED ON THE OCCASION OF CARRYING A CHILD TO SYN- 
AGOGUE. (Similar to No. 130). Wength, 9 feet 7 inches; width, 7 
inches. (Cat. No. 5556, U.S.N.M.) 
Lent by Hadji Ephraim Benguiat. 
132. WRAPPER USED ON THE OCCASION OF CARRYING A CHILD TO SYN- 
AGocuE.—Made of linen, embroidered with Hebrew inscription, giv- 
“ing the name of the child as David, son of Judah, born 5598 A. M. 
(1888 A. D.). Length, 11 feet 3 inches; width, 74 inches. (Cat. No. 
154447, U.S.N.M.) 
Gift of Mr. David Sulzberger. 
133. Ope or a Sryum.—Written on parchment and richly iUlumi- 
nated. 
With the orthodox Jews fie study of the Bible, and especially of 
the Pentateuch or Zorah, is considered a religious duty as well as a 
means of culture. As soon, therefore, as the young scholar has mas- 
tered the elements of Hebrew he studies in school the Pentateuch 
with some standard commentaries. His first reading through of 
the whole Pentateuch is sometimes the occasion of a family festival, 
called siyum, i. e., completion. The young student recites passages 
from the Pentateuch or makes a short speech, and receives presents 
from relatives and friends. 
This also takes place sometimes after the finishing of a tract of the 
Talmud. This ode by an unknown poet celebrates such a siyum of a 
