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Jewish ceremonial textiles and the Torah: exploring conservation practices in relation to ritual textiles associated with holy texts

Jewish ceremonial textiles and the Torah: exploring conservation practices in relation to ritual textiles associated with holy texts
Jewish ceremonial textiles and the Torah: exploring conservation practices in relation to ritual textiles associated with holy texts
Jewish texts are integral to Jewish life. The Torah (the central text of Judaism) and the vast body of rabbinical writings provide the rules by which many Jews live. These written rules extend to the correct treatment of all objects, including textiles, used in religious rituals. This work considers how these rules may impact on the actual conservation treatment of Jewish ritual textiles. Jewish culture is rich in attractive textiles that are highly embellished and prized by their communities. In order to keep these textiles in ritual use, or to prepare them for museum display or storage, conservation measures are often necessary. Jewish texts, however, suggest that the textiles used in religious practice, such as Torah mantles, binders and ark curtains should be regarded as holy, and thus warrant special considerations for their handling, storage and display. Considerationsinclude types of materials used, on which day and times conservation can be performed, and how any removed parts should be discarded. According to professional ethics, conservators should consider the desires of originating cultures when treating their objects, yet few conservators were aware of the commandments imposed by Judaism to preserve the textiles’ holy qualities. This paper examines the conservation issues presented by Jewish ceremonial textiles in order to suggest strategies for conservators to simultaneously acknowledge the textiles’ physical preservation needs as well as the rules dictated by the religious texts.
judaism, torah, conservation, ceremonial textiles, ethics
9781904982265
244-248
Archetype Publications
Morris, Bernice
c4ccdecb-bc64-4808-84b7-812cc04a36c6
Brooks, Mary M.
cf44ae8e-ed4b-4394-a1ae-d434a898cf08
Hayward, Maria
Kramer, Elizabeth
Morris, Bernice
c4ccdecb-bc64-4808-84b7-812cc04a36c6
Brooks, Mary M.
cf44ae8e-ed4b-4394-a1ae-d434a898cf08
Hayward, Maria
Kramer, Elizabeth

Morris, Bernice and Brooks, Mary M. (2007) Jewish ceremonial textiles and the Torah: exploring conservation practices in relation to ritual textiles associated with holy texts. Hayward, Maria and Kramer, Elizabeth (eds.) In Textiles and Text. Archetype Publications. pp. 244-248 .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Jewish texts are integral to Jewish life. The Torah (the central text of Judaism) and the vast body of rabbinical writings provide the rules by which many Jews live. These written rules extend to the correct treatment of all objects, including textiles, used in religious rituals. This work considers how these rules may impact on the actual conservation treatment of Jewish ritual textiles. Jewish culture is rich in attractive textiles that are highly embellished and prized by their communities. In order to keep these textiles in ritual use, or to prepare them for museum display or storage, conservation measures are often necessary. Jewish texts, however, suggest that the textiles used in religious practice, such as Torah mantles, binders and ark curtains should be regarded as holy, and thus warrant special considerations for their handling, storage and display. Considerationsinclude types of materials used, on which day and times conservation can be performed, and how any removed parts should be discarded. According to professional ethics, conservators should consider the desires of originating cultures when treating their objects, yet few conservators were aware of the commandments imposed by Judaism to preserve the textiles’ holy qualities. This paper examines the conservation issues presented by Jewish ceremonial textiles in order to suggest strategies for conservators to simultaneously acknowledge the textiles’ physical preservation needs as well as the rules dictated by the religious texts.

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More information

Submitted date: 2006
Accepted/In Press date: 2006
Published date: 2007
Additional Information: Postprints from the third annual conference of the AHRC Research Centre for Textile Conservation and Textile Studies - to be published by Archetype Publications in July 2007
Venue - Dates: Textiles and Text: Re-establishing the Links Between Archival and Object-based Research, Winchester, UK, 2006-07-11 - 2006-07-13
Keywords: judaism, torah, conservation, ceremonial textiles, ethics

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 47041
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/47041
ISBN: 9781904982265
PURE UUID: d4c653fe-9069-4a5c-b666-a26a8d4e8727

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 24 Jul 2007
Last modified: 08 Dec 2023 18:03

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Contributors

Author: Bernice Morris
Author: Mary M. Brooks
Editor: Maria Hayward
Editor: Elizabeth Kramer

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