Mezuzah
Mezuzah
- Artist/ Creator
- Anonymous
- Title
- Mezuzah
- Year
- c. 1850- c. 1900
- Size
- l. 15,5 cm, Ø 2 cm
- Inventorynumber
- 2061
- Description
Yellow wooden cylinder case divided into five segments from the doorpost of Louis de Beer at Markt no. 23 in Culemborg, containing a parchment inscribed with biblical verses from Deuteronomy 6: 4-9, known as the Shema.
- Category
- Jewish ritual objects
Museum
Conclusion
This object was entrusted to the museum by Louis de Beer, shamash of the local synagogue, for safekeeping.
Explanation
In May 1940, Louis de Beer, the shamash (caretaker) of the synagogue in Culemborg, gave this mezuzah and a tefillin set (phylacteries), his personal property, to the Oudheidkamer, predecessor of Elisabeth Weeshuis. The previous museum curator states that they were brought for safekeeping. De Beer survived the war and lived in Culemborg until his death the 1960s. No record exists of the museum contacting De Beer to return the objects or to acquire them as a gift. The objects are mentioned in the Museum Acquisitions 1940-1948 report, Amsterdam, 1999.
Reconstruction origin
- Before May 1940
- Louis de Beer (collection), Culemborg
Museum inventory; Museum Acquisitions 1940-1948 report, Amsterdam, 1999
- 1940-05
- Given to the museum for safekeeping by Louis de Beer
Museum inventory; Museum Acquisitions 1940-1948 report, Amsterdam, 1999
- 1940-05 <> present day
- Museum Elisabeth Weeshuis