Needlepoint matzoh cover with a Hebrew inscription, flowers and leaves
Archival History
The matzah cover was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1990 by the Museum für Deutsche Geschichte.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of 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.
Scope and Content
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.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
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.
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.]
Subjects
- Jewish way of life--History--20th century.
- Jews--Germany--History--20th century.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany.
- Jews--Germany--Social life and customs--20th century.
- Judaism--Germany--Customs and practices--History--20th century.
Genre
- Jewish Art and Symbolism
- Object