Yeshiva University Museum, 15 W 16th St, New York, NY (2021)

06/11/2021

Shabbat Shalom!

Tefillin bag, Morocco, 19th century
Collection of Yeshiva University Museum, gift of Abraham Pinto

What’s the point of a Tefillin bag?
Tefillin or phylacteries are black leather boxes containing parchment scrolls that are inscribed with verses from the Torah. They are worn by observant adult Jews during weekday morning prayers. Tefillin are made of leather and because of that they can be easily warped due to sun exposure or various factors. A tefillin bag is used to protect the tefillin while they are not in use.

Post by Deborah Coopersmith, Research Associate, Rabbi Arthur Schneier Program for International Affairs of Yeshiva University
Schneier Program for International Affairs of Yeshiva University

#tefillin #tefillinbag #prayer #morocco #sephardicjews #museumfromhome #museumcollection #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

06/04/2021

This atarah was a gift from Jewish Cultural Reconstruction, an organization charged with the distribution of “orphaned” Jewish objects after the Holocaust.

The atarah is a long, narrow strip of decorated fabric that is attached to the middle of the top edge of a tallit, prayer shawl. Atarah in Hebrew means crown or diadem, but people usually refer to it as a neck band, as the atarah is placed on the neck. The atarah displayed here is decorated in the spanier arbeit technique. Spanier arbeit in Yiddish means spun work which is fitting as lamella (metal strips) is wrapped over or wound around a cotton or linen core in dense schematized floral or geometric patterns.
The spanier arbeit technique, which was prominent in Eastern Europe in the 19th century, also has roots within Spanish history. Jews in 15th century Spain would create lace while incorporating silver and gold threads. The direct connection hasn’t been found yet, but perhaps more research into this area will shed some light.
Post by Deborah Coopersmith, Research Associate, Rabbi Arthur Schneier Program for International Affairs of Yeshiva University
Schneier Program for International Affairs of Yeshiva University

#atarah #tallit #prayershawl #spanierarbeit #museumfromhome #museumcollection #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

05/31/2021

Cover and inside page of memorial book for a soldier named Eric, killed in action in 1943

#memorialday #remembrance #ww2 #memorialbook

05/28/2021

Shabbat Shalom!

Kiddush cup, Germany, c. 1900, silver
Collection of Yeshiva University Museum, The Max Stern Collection

#shabbatshalom #shabbat #shabbes #kiddush #cup #wine #judaica #museumfromhome #museumcollection #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

05/16/2021

Chag Shavuot Sameach! Happy Shavuot!

Photograph of the interior of the synagogue in Neckarbischofsheim decorated for Shavuot, Germany, ca. 1930
Collection of Yeshiva University Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Jesselson

#shavuot #shavuos #historicphoto #synagogue #holidaydecorations #jewishlife #jewishholiday #jewishholidays #museumfromhome #museumcollection #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

05/14/2021

Shabbat Shalom!

Torah Crown, Russia (?), 1834. Silver: gilt, stamped, cast, punched.
Collection of Yeshiva University Museum, The Max Stern Collection

#judaica #silverjudaica #torah #torahcrown #museumfromhome #museumcollection #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

04/30/2021

Lag BaOmer illustration from HAGEINU: SEFER TEMUNOT (Our Festivals, A Book of Pictures), New York, 1928
Collection of Yeshiva University Museum, gift of Vera and Jack Wilner Sundelson

The book was authored by Avi-Shai, illustrated by Ze’ev Raban, and published by Miller-Lynn Publishing Co. Raban’s illustrations show children celebrating Jewish holidays. This Lag BaOmer observance was depicted on the shores of the Kinneret.

#lagbaomer #lagbomer #zeevraban #jewishartist #jewishholiday #jewishholidays #museumfromhome #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

04/27/2021

Samson Schames (1898-1967), “Unknown Victim.” Mosaic. London, ca. 1941
Collection of Yeshiva University Museum, gift of Edith Schames

German-Jewish artist Samson Schames fled from Germany to England in 1939. Using improvised materials, he continued to create art during his internment as an enemy alien in a camp near Liverpool in 1940. After his return to London, Schames created mosaics with shards and pieces of debris from bombed houses.

#refugeeart #mosaicart #mosaics #jewishartist #samsonschames #museumfromhome #museumcollection #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

04/23/2021

Shabbat Shalom!

Torah mantle, Fez, Morocco, ca. 1930
Collection of Yeshiva University Museum, gift of Mark Samoil

#torah #torahmantle #sefertorah #judaica #museumfromhome #museumcollection #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

04/14/2021

Customized Israeli flag by Ita Aber, New York, ca. 1970, cotton
Collection of Yeshiva University Museum, gift of the artist

Textile artist Ita Aber customized this flag by attaching symbols celebrating New York City – the city skyline and a red apple. She brought it to the Israel Day Parade where then-Mayor John Lindsay (1921-2000; Mayor of N.Y.C. 1966-1973) autographed it for her.

#yomhaatzmaut #israel #israeliflag #flagart #bigapple #israeldayparade #johnlindsay #nycmayor #nycskyline #museumfromhome #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

04/08/2021

#WeRemember
Pictured here is Genia Poliakoff in Berlin in 1935. Genia and her son Leo were among the millions who perished during the Holocaust.

#YomHashoah #HolocaustRemembranceDay #Holocaust #NeverForget

04/01/2021

Take a look at this old can of tooth powder from our collection, gift of Augusta Krieger Rudnick!

Most Americans use toothpaste for their dental hygiene nowadays, but for a long time tooth powders were the most popular way to polish your teeth. The one shown here was made kosher for Passover.

#kosherforpassover #toothpowder #teeth #teethcleaning #toothpaste #passover #chagsameach #happypassover #museumfromhome #museumcollection #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

03/26/2021

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Passover from the staff at Yeshiva University Museum!

From the collection:
Seder plate with ceremonial foods, matzah, and wine cups. Sculpture by fiber artist Ina Golub (1938-2015), Mountainside, New Jersey, date unknown
Gift of the Estate of Ina Golub

#happypassover #chagsameach #passover #pesach #seder #sederplate #passoverseder #matzah #matzo #bringonthematzah #winecup #winecups #fiberart #fiberartist #fibersculpture #judaica #museumfromhome #museumcollection #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

03/25/2021

Matzah cover, Germany, ca. 1880
Collection of Yeshiva University Museum, gift of Mrs. Nathan Meyer

What’s that writing on the matzah cover?
Matzah, unleavened bread, is eaten during the holiday of Passover when chametz, leavened goods, are forbidden. Matzah takes bread’s place in the festive meals and as a result has its own cover. The words on this matzah cover read “That you may remember the day you left Egypt all the days of your life.” The Sages debate the purpose behind the word “all” if it then says “days of your life”. The Sages conclude that “all” teaches that one must remember Egypt in this world and the world to come.

Post by Deborah Coopersmith, Research Associate, Rabbi Arthur Schneier Program for International Affairs of Yeshiva University
Schneier Program for International Affairs of Yeshiva University

#passover #pesach #seder #passoverseder #matzah #matzo #matzahcover #chametz #miracles #egypt #redemption #freedom #judaica #museumfromhome #museumcollection #bringonthematzah #embroidery #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

03/25/2021

Seder plate, 1769
Collection of Yeshiva University Museum, The Max Stern Collection

This plate is inscribed in Hebrew with the order of the Passover Seder, and in Yiddish with the name of the owner. Narrative motifs include depictions of Moses and Pharaoh, three of the four sons of the Haggadah, and Miriam and Aaron. In the center is a depiction of the paschal lamb standing on an altar of burnt offerings. This plate is made of pewter, an alloy composed of tin and zinc, with trace elements of copper or antimony. Pewter was more affordable than silver, and was frequently used as tableware from the Middle Ages into the 19th century.

#passover #pesach #seder #passoverseder #sederplate #judaica #pewter #matzah #matzo #pharaoh #moses #happypassover #chagsameach #museumfromhome #museumcollection #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum

03/24/2021

What is your favorite Passover dessert?

While coconut macaroons do not have symbolic ties to the Passover story, they are served at many Seder tables for dessert. As they do not contain any flour or leavening agents, these sweet treats are a Passover staple. Homemade or mass-produced, today’s macaroons come in all sorts of varieties, including toffee crunch, salted caramel, and red velvet. The tin container depicted here once contained coconut macaroons kosher for Passover.

Yom Tov coconut macaroon container, date unknown
Collection of Yeshiva University Museum, gift of Edith Lustig Feder

#passover #pesach #seder #passoverdessert #passovermacaroons #coconutmacaroons #coconut #macaroons #museumfromhome #museumcollection #yeshivauniversitymuseum #yumuseum #yum