Needlepoint matzoh cover with a Hebrew inscription, flowers and leaves

Object | Accession Number: 1990.41.2 a-b

Overview

Brief Narrative: Needlepoint matzoh cover from prewar Germany. It was used to cover the matzoh at Sabbath dinners. The blessing of the matzoh is embroidered around the perimeter.
Geography: recovery: Germany
Credit Line: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the Museum für Deutsche Geschichte

Physical Details

Language: Hebrew
Classification: Jewish Art and Symbolism
Category: Jewish ceremonial objects
Object Type: Matzah covers (aat)
Physical Description: Needlepoint matzoh cover, square with rounded corners, with a blue pleated border and brown cloth backing. The needlepoint design features a Hebrew prayer inscription in red thread around the perimeter, with the last 2 words in the center. There is a circle of embroidered flowers and green leaves, with individuated flowers in pink, white, and red. There are 3 brown cloth semicircles attached to the bottom edge of the cover; these represent the 3 divisions: Cohen, Levi, and Israel.
Materials: overall : thread
Inscription: front, embroidered, red thread : (transliteration: Barukh ata Adonai elohenu melekh ha-olam asher kidshanu be-mitsvotav ve-tsivanu al / akhilat Matzah. [Praised are you, Adonai our God, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us through His commandments, and commands us to eat matzoh.]

Rights & Restrictions

Conditions on Access: No restrictions on access
Conditions on Use: No restrictions on use

Keywords & Subjects

Topical Term: Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany. Jewish way of life--History--20th century. Jews--Germany--History--20th century. Jews--Germany--Social life and customs--20th century. Judaism--Germany--Customs and practices--History--20th century.

Administrative Notes

Legal Status: Permanent Collection
Provenance: The matzah cover was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1990 by the Museum für Deutsche Geschichte.
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Record last modified:: 2023-09-27 13:02:40
This page:: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn3949

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