Orphan Objects: Facets of the Textiles Collection of the Joods Historisch Museum, Amsterdam Swetschinski, Daniel M.; Cohen, Julie-Marthe; Hartog, Stephen and Joods Historisch Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Swetschinski, Daniel M.; Cohen, Julie-Marthe; Hartog, Stephen; Joods Historisch Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Rarely does an exhibition catalog inspire tears, but the poignancy in the stories behind many of the Jewish textiles shown here will do it. There are over 160 ceremonial and personal cloths?parokhets and Torah mantles, circumcision cloths and ornate talliths, hallah covers, tablecloths, pincushions, caps, bags, and more, photographed in full color to show the exquisite work and the care taken in handing them down through generations. These "orphaned" textiles are evidence of the Jewish communities?particularly Portuguese Jews?that flourished in the Netherlands before the Holocaust. Social historian Swetschinski writes beautifully about Jewish beliefs and customs with plenty of scholarly detail but lucidly enough for the lay person. A good notes section and a list of objects in the museum not pictured in this volume are also included. Highly recommended for Judaica and textile collections in academic and public libraries. Let's hope this important catalog will be available in paperback for wider accessibility.?Therese Duzinkiewicz Baker, Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling Green
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