Circumcision Mark Podwal (b. 1945) Digitial archival pigment print on paper 7 7/16 x 7 9/16" USA, 2020 © Mark Podwal B’rit milah (circumcision) is among the earliest Jewish religious rituals. The Torah tells how Abraham was commanded by God to circumcise himself, all the males in his household, his descendants, and slaves, in an [...]
Prayer Book and Other Books Mark Podwal (b. Brooklyn, NY 1945) USA, 2017 Acrylic and colored pencil on paper, h. 16 x w. 20 in. Cincinnati Skirball Museum, gift of the artist, ©Mark Podwal, 2018.5.6 Inspired by this prayerbook in the Skirball collection printed in Amsterdam in 1766, the artist has placed the hammered [...]
Circumcision Set Case: wood, l. 8 ½ x w. 1 11/16 x d 5/8 in.; instruments: silver; prepuce holder: l.3 1/16 x w. 5/8 x d. ¼ in.; container: l. 2 ½ x w. 1 1/6 x d. 15/16 in.; spoon: l. 3 ½ x w ½ x d. ¼ in. Israel, ca. 1950 B’nai [...]
Circumcision Gown Cotton with eyelet ruffles, l. 43 x dia. 62 x sleeve length 8 in. Worn by Harry M. Pleatman, b. Newport, KY, July 31, 1891 Cincinnati Skirball Museum, gift of Bert and Stanley Pleatman in memory of their father, Harry M. Pleatman, 15.50 Circumcision of a baby boy is the first life cycle [...]
Head Covering (Sterntichl) Poland, 18th century Baroque and seed pearls, rose diamonds, and gold wire on velvet, l. 10 x w. 4 x d. 2 in. B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum Collection, gift of Joseph B. and Olyn Horwitz, 2015.17.143 Pious Jewish women cut their hair and cover their heads after they marry as [...]
Marriage Ring Hungary, ca. 1850-1950 Silver, 2 9/16 x 1 9/16 x 61/64” Inscriptions on 4 sides in Hebrew; translation: “to the bride and groom”; “joy and happiness”; “good luck” B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum Collection, gift of Philip Lax, 2015.17.229 The wedding ring is an integral part of a Jewish wedding ceremony which [...]
Heaven and Earth: A Chuppah of Celebration (Wedding Canopy) Corinne Soikin Strauss (b. New York 1946) United States, 1990 Painted silk, h. 72 x w. 72 in. Cincinnati Skirball Museum purchase with funds provided by friends of Sue and Jerry Teller in honor of Sue’s birthday, 9.73 The Jewish wedding ceremony takes place beneath the chuppah, [...]
Ketubah (Marriage Contract) Conegliano, Italy, 1728 Watercolor and ink on parchment, h. 29 x w. 21 ¼ in. Cincinnati Skirball Museum, formerly S. Kirschstein collection, 34.45 The ketubah, or marriage contract, is traditionally written in Aramaic, an ancient Semitic language related to Hebrew, Syriac, and Phoenician. The document stipulates the mutual marital pledges of husband and wife. Marriage is a [...]
