Torah crown and matching pair of Torah finials. [Designed by Oscar Segal. Tel Aviv, ca. 1980s].
Silver, repoussé, cut, pierced, soldered and engraved (unmarked).
1. Large Torah crown, with a round base and twelve double arms extending from the base to an upper ring, engraved with a dedicatory inscription:
"Donated by R. Aharon son of R. Chanoch Boda in memory of his wife Rachel daughter of R. Menachem Mendel of blessed memory, of Piotrkow". Topped with a crown-shaped ornament formed of the words: Kevodo Male Olam [His glory fills the world] in pierced letters. Decorated with symbols of the Twelve Tribes and bells. Base inscribed in pierced letters: "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem". Fitted inside with two thin silver rods and two rings for mounting on the Torah scroll staves (Atzei Hayim).
2-3. Matching pair of Torah finials, of similar design, decorated with symbols of the Twelve Tribes. Each topped with a crown-shaped ornament formed of the words: "Blessed be the name of the Lord", in pierced letters. Bases inscribed in pierced letters with verses: "For out of Zion shall go forth the law" and "and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem".
Engraved dedication on the base of the Torah finials, indicates that they were donated by Azriel Chaim Ackerman in memory of his parents, R. Avraham Yosef and Chava Miriam, and his wife, Frimet, in memory of her parents, R. Yonah Yaakov and Sarah, and their families, who perished in the Holocaust.
R. Azriel Chaim Ackerman (1911-2005), shochet and chazan in Beregszász and New York; follower of the “Minchat Elazar” of Munkács].
Crown: base diameter: 18 cm, max. height: 37.5 cm. Overall good condition.
Finials: height: 31.5 cm. Max. width: 10 cm. Fair-good condition. Minor blemishes and bends. Foot of one finial partially detached.
For comparison, see: Center for Jewish Art (CJA), item 37185 (Gross Family Collection).
