Torah Shield

The Torah shield (Heb. tas) is one of the elements of the 'klei kodesh' (appurtenances of the religious cult associated with the Torah).An element attracting our attention is the date of its creation 1779, exceptional when it comes to the preservation of items related to the storage and use of the Torah from before the 19th century (to read more about the history of the Torah on the Virtual Shtetl website: https://sztetl.org.pl/en/glossary/torah).

The presented tas was decorated with ornaments and a donation inscription: it is a gift from learned Abraham, son of learned Moshe. The custom of using the shield is justified by the Talmudic regulations which forbid the rewinding of the Torah in the synagogue, so as not to waste time that can be devoted to studying it. In the lower part of the pendant, a small box was often placed, for a piece of paper (or a tablet) with information on which fragment of the study of the Scriptures was finished.

The shield is decorated with two columns symbolising Jachin and Boaz (the names of the columns guarding the entrance into the Temple of Jerusalem). The names of the columns are translated: Jachin: 'God has established', Boaz: 'Strength [is] in Him.'The cresting of the shield very often featured symbols known also from the decoration of other Torah-related items (such as a mantle or a crown): two lions, symbolizing the tribe of Judah, from which David originated and from which, according to Jewish tradition, the Messiah will come.

Torah shield donated to the Museum thanks to The North American Council for the Legacy of Polish Jews.

Natalia Różańska