Embroidered pouch for tefillin brought to the United States by Nisson Bespaloff or a family member
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 6.000 inches (15.24 cm) | Width: 6.500 inches (16.51 cm)
Archival History
The pouch was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Musem in 2017.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection
Scope and Content
A faded green pouch for tefillin with a decorative embroidery design owned by Nisson Bespaloff or another man in his extended family. The pouch was brought to the United States when the owner immigrated in the 1930s or 1940s. 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.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Square-shaped, green velvety, pile weave cloth carrying pouch with a brass-colored, metal zipper closure at the top. The front is embroidered with a gold-colored floral garland design framing Hebrew characters below a Star of David. The color of the cloth is faded and the textured surface is heavily worn from use, with patches of the material’s surface now missing.
Subjects
- United States.
- Tallinn (Estonia)
- Emigration and immigration.
- Russia
- Paris (France)
Genre
- Jewish Art and Symbolism
- Object
- Ceremonial objects.