Pair of small tefillin brought to the United States by Nisson Bespaloff or a family member
Extent and Medium
a: Height: 1.000 inches (2.54 cm) | Width: 1.250 inches (3.175 cm) | Depth: 1.500 inches (3.81 cm)
b: Height: 0.875 inches (2.223 cm) | Width: 1.250 inches (3.175 cm) | Depth: 1.500 inches (3.81 cm)
Archival History
The tefillin set was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Musem in 2017.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection
Scope and Content
A pair of batim from a set of tefillin owned by Nisson Bespaloff or another man in his extended family. The batim were 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
Black-painted, head tefillin with a square, leather box (batim) constructed of 4 sections with an embossed Hebrew letter Shin on the left and right sides. The box is centered on a layered leather platform sewn together with gut from kosher animals (giddin). The platform has a triangular, notched back with an opening through which a knotted leather strap (retzu’ot), now missing, would be threaded. The box interior should be divided into 4 sections and hold 4 parchment scrolls (parshiyot) inscribed with Hebrew prayers. Some paint has worn off the edges of the batim, which is beginning to split in half. Black-painted hand tefillin with a square, leather box (batim) with smooth sides. The box is centered on a square, layered leather platform sewn together with gut from kosher animals (giddin). The platform has a triangular, notched back with an opening through which a leather strap (retzu’ot), now missing, would be threaded. The box should hold a parchment scroll (parshiyot) inscribed with 4 Hebrew prayers.
Subjects
- Tallinn (Estonia)
- Russia
- Emigration and immigration.
- Paris (France)
- United States.
Genre
- Jewish Art and Symbolism
- Object
- Ceremonial objects.