In Jewish synagogues, passages from the biblical scrolls of the Torah are read aloud during worship. The scrolls are housed in a decorative ark or cabinet closed with an ornate curtain. Known as a “parochet,” this curtain symbolizes the ancient veil that covered the ark holding the Ten Commandments.
This masterful 17th-century parochet was likely woven at a commercial workshop in Cairo. Egypt was under Ottoman rule at the time, and the designer of this textile appears to have been influenced by the imperial style. The curved flowers and leaves are typical Ottoman motifs that became popular in the 16th century. This parochet may have been made for one of the Sephardic Jewish communities who settled in Ottoman lands after being expelled from Spain.
This textile is rich with religious symbolism. The single arch indicates a gateway to heaven. In the center, nine lamps — a metaphor for the guiding light of God — hang from a large chalice to symbolize a menorah. The Hebrew inscription above the arch is from Psalms 118:20: “This is the Gate of the Lord: Through it the Righteous Enter.” The motifs of lamps, columns and an archway are similar to those seen on Islamic prayer rugs.
An early 20th-century synagogue in Marrakech with a parochet. Today, parochets are typically made of velvet embroidered with gold silk. © danileon2/iStock.com.
