(JHE) — The character of a synagogue does not just come from its architecture, but from the interior decoration and fittings that complete it. Among the most striking of these fittings are the often richly embroidered ritual textiles used in the Ark and elsewhere.
A new book, A Legacy Revealed: The Izmir Collection of Ceremonial Synagogue Textiles, explores hundreds of pieces found in the historic synagogues of Izmir, which have been undergoing restoration and revival for the past decade.
Lavishly illustrated with colour photographs, the book was written by the scholars Bracha Yaniv and Tamar Shadmi and published by the Mordechai Kiriaty Foundation in Tel Aviv in English, Hebrew, and Turkish — each version is available for free download by clicking the link. The 137-page publication is the outcome of a six-year project by the Kiriaty Foundation on the rescue, preservation, and restoration of more than 300 ritual Jewish textile items discovered in the synagogues in Izmir.
The textile project was part of a broader project for the preservation of Jewish heritage in Izmir initiated by the Kiriaty Foundation, and which includes the restoration and preservation of nine historic synagogues in Izmir’s old city.
The book explores synagogue textiles including Torah covers, mantles, and binders, Parokhet (ark curtains), and covers for the Tevah, or reading desk. They are made of silk, linen, cotton, or wool, and are often elaborately decorated with gold or silver thread and colourful embroidered floral designs. They often have dedicatory inscriptions embroidered on them.
“A dominant common feature of these artifacts is their decorative character—a feature that is also highly prominent the ceremonial textiles of other Sephardi and oriental communities,” it states. “This was apparently influenced by the surrounding Muslim culture, which shunned figural images in religious settings and focused instead on non-figural ornamentation. This approach is contrary to the Ashkenazi design of the same objects, mainly parokhot, on which various figural images were commonly depicted.”
The books describes the physical aspects of the objects and their design, as well as providing history and tradition. It also provides the translations of the dedicatory inscriptions and describes the restoration process.
“[D]eeply treasured personal belongings were the source of many of the ceremonial objects donated to the Izmir synagogues,” it states. “Bedspreads, pillowcases, bundle kerchiefs, and other covers were transformed into parokhot, Torah mantles, tevah covers, and small covers for the Torah scroll. Bedspreads were especially suitable for use as a parokhet because of their square form. This necessitated adding hanging loops and a dedicatory inscription.”
Click here to find links to download the book, in English, Hebrew, and Turkish
1 comment on “Turkey: A new book, “A Legacy Revealed. The Izmir Collection of Ceremonial Synagogue Textiles,” explores hundreds of pieces found in the historic synagogues of Izmir, which have been undergoing restoration for a decade”
On my way to Jerusalem I passed also through Izmir and was able to visit one of the syynagogues that were restored. This was a personal miracle. I loved it and took pictures.
May these synagogues be places to build bridges for Shalom and Salam in Turkey despite the trouble by DITIB and similiar organisations.