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Torah Mantle

Torah Mantle

This gray hand-embroidered Torah mantle (parokhet), measures only 45 centimeters in width and 62 centimetres in length and was obviously intended for a very small Torah. While the exact location of the stave holes are not visible, they are probably located at the upper left and right corners. Here, the front section of the Torah mantle is being displayed. At the bottom of the mantle, there is a golden-gray border which displays a series of grape-like images. At the centre of the mantle, there are two tablets containing the first ten letters of the Hebrew alphabet in descending order. Two lions which are standing on their hind-legs are positioned on the left and right side of the tablets respectively. Above the tablets, there is a beaded open-ribbed crown. Directly above the crown, two Hebrew words appear which translate as "Crown of Torah." Below the tablets, a leaf-like embroidery appears. A series of flowers and leaves surround both the tablets and the crown. The centre of the mantle is framed by a series of grape-like embroideries which are identical to that seen at the bottom of the mantle.

The tablets located at the centre of the mantle represent the Ten Commandments which were given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. The Hebrew lettering which descends these tablets serve to number each of these commandments respectively. The two human-like lions represent the cherubim which guarded the Ark of the Lord. The crown, a common image in Jewish art, has many symbolic references. The term "crown of Torah," for example, serves to emphasize the extreme religious importance of the Torah. In addition, it indicates the spiritual elevation which one is supposed to experience when reading the Torah. The association between the Torah and crown may have derived, in part, from the fact that, in Temple times, the High Priest wore a crown. Grapes, which border the bottom and centre of the mantle, are often used to symbolize the Torah. Grapes are also reminiscent of the fact that between the time of their exodus from Egypt until the destruction of the second Temple, Jews were required to use wine when making a sacrifice to God. The flowers and leaves which appear in the centre symbolize the "blossoming" of the Torah.

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