National Jewish Book Awards 2019 Finalist for Visual Arts. Richly illustrated and meticulously documented, this is the first comprehensive survey of synagogue textiles to be available in English. Bracha Yaniv, a leading expert in the field of Jewish ceremonial textiles, records their evolution from ancient times to the present. The volume contains a systematic consideration of the mantle, the wrapper, the Torah scroll binder, and the Torah ark curtain and valance, and considers the cultural factors that inspired the evolution of these different items and their motifs. Fabrics, techniques, and modes of production are described in detail; the inscriptions marking the circumstances of donation are similarly subjected to close analysis. Fully annotated plates demonstrate the richness of the styles and traditions in use in different parts of the Jewish diaspora, drawing attention to regional customs. Throughout, emphasis is placed on presenting and explaining all relevant aspects of the Jewish cultural heritage. The concluding section contains transcriptions, translations, and annotations of some 180 inscriptions recording the circumstances in which items were donated, providing a valuable survey of customs of dedication. Together with the comprehensive bibliography, inventory lists, and other relevant documentation, this volume will be an invaluable reference work for the scholarly community, museum curators, and others interested in the Jewish cultural heritage.

About the Author
Bracha Yaniv is Professor Emerita of Jewish Art History at Bar-Ilan University, and founding editor of Ars Judaica: The Bar-Ilan Journal of Jewish Art. She is the author of The Carved Wooden Torah Arks of Eastern Europe (2017) and Ceremonial Synagogue Textiles from Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Italian Communities (2019), both published by the Littman Library.

Reviews

'Bracha Yaniv has assembled a thorough documentation of ceremonial synagogue textile from every possible perspective in this beautifully illustrated book... It showcases the depth of knowledge of a research of an author who has been studying and writing about these subjects for many years. The amply illustrated text reflects her long-time, exhaustive work with Jewish textiles. It will surely be of use to students of the subject as a reference as well as lovers of historic synagogue textiles.' Annette B. Fromm, Women in Judaism

'Bracha Yaniv's monograph on synagogal textiles, originally published in Hebrew in 2009, and translated here by Yohai Goell, is the first English-language publication to investigate this somewhat under-explored aspect of material culture. The book's importance is self-evident, and it should become essential reading for students and scholars of Judaica, and religious textiles in general.' Nikolaos Vryzidis, Textile History

Book Information
ISBN 9781906764180
Author Bracha Yaniv
Format Hardback
Page Count 440
Imprint The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization
Publisher Liverpool University Press
Weight(grams) 368g