Set of tefillin acquired by a Soviet Jewish soldier
Extent and Medium
a: Height: 4.000 inches (10.16 cm) | Width: 5.375 inches (13.653 cm) | Depth: 3.375 inches (8.573 cm)
b: Height: 3.250 inches (8.255 cm) | Width: 4.000 inches (10.16 cm) | Depth: 2.625 inches (6.668 cm)
Creator(s)
- Shimon Meszel (Subject)
Biographical History
Shimon Meszel was born to a Jewish family. During World War II (1939-1945), he served in the Soviet Army. Shimon was stationed in 1943 in Kharkov, Russia (Kharkiv, Ukraine). He emigrated to Israel, where he married Klara Gorysznik, born on February 1, 1926, in Warez, Poland (Varyazh, Ukraine). The couple settled in Bat Yam, Israel.
Archival History
The tefillin were donated to the United States Holocaust Museum in 2004 by Shimon Meszel.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Shimon Meszel
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
Pair of tefillin purchased by Shimon Meszel, a Jewish soldier in the Soviet Army, for five rubles in Kharkov, Russia, in 1943. Tefillin are small boxes containing prayers attached to leather straps and worn on the arm and the head by Orthodox Jewish males during morning prayers. Shimon eventually emigrated to Israel.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
a. Square, black painted leather box, a head tefillin, centered on a larger square, black painted leather platform. The 5 layered platform is sewn together with light brown thread made from the gut of a kosher animal (gidden). A dark brown leather strap is inserted through the platform, knotted on one end, and loosely coiled around the platform for storage. The box contains 4 parchment scrolls inscribed with a Torah verse. The left and right sides of the box have an embossed Hebrew Shin letter; the left Shin has 4 strokes. b. Square, black painted leather box, a hand tefillin, centered on a larger square, black painted leather platform. The 5 layered platform is sewn together with light brown thread. A dark brown leather strap is inserted through the platform, knotted on one end, and tightly wrapped around the platform for storage. The box contains a parchment scroll inscribed with 4 Torah verses.
a. left and right side, left side with 4 strokes, painted : Hebrew Shin letter
Subjects
- World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Jewish--Personal narratives.
- Soldiers--Soviet Union--Biography.
- Jewish soldiers--Soviet Union--Biography.
Genre
- Object
- Jewish Art and Symbolism