Torah Cover Project

The Torah Cover Project

 Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the Jewish New Year and commemorates the anniversary of the creation of the world.  Yom Kippur begins Tuesday night. These are the 2 holiest days of the Jewish calendar. During this time the covers for the torahs are changed.  These covers or mantles are traditionally plain (ish)- white/ivory/cream colored. As with many Jewish traditions, there are many different explanations for this.

 

My project for the summer was to make 2 covers for my synagogue,

Temple Sholom in Broomall, PA. 

This is what they look like.

 

They are relatively identical except for the front panels. 

One depicts a shofar and the other the "Book of Life".  The shofar is a ram's horn that is blown and sounds like a trumpet, several times during the High Holidays.  On Rosh Hashanah, God is said to inscribe the fate of every person for the upcoming year in the Book of Life.

 

Silk dupioni was used to make the covers. 

 Each top section was quilted with pomegranates. 

Then I quilted the background and appliqued the motifs for each cover.

 

 

 

The covers were then constructed like a quilt with a final dimension of 47" Wx 27"H.

 

 

 

They are then attached to the top of the cover or shoulder like a wrap around skirt

 with the flap in the back..

 

 

In the past the cover was attached to the shoulder 

encasing the wood inbetween layers of fabric and attaching the "quilt".

 

This time I tried  a very unique approach.   I used tops that were custom made of cherry for me by a very skilled local woodworker.

 

 

Then I used Velcro (c)to attach the cover to the wooden top.

 

These covers are only used for about 3 weeks and then stored the rest of the year.  The Velcro method of attachment makes storage and cleaning so much easier.

 

I made fabric slipcovers to store the wooden tops

 

 

and provided Temple Sholom with an acid free archival box for storage.

 

As we say in Hebrew, L'Shana Tova -

May you have a sweet and happy New Year.

 

 

Starting The First Torah Cover

Before I reveal the first design chosen for the Torah Cover Project for Temple B'Nai Israel, I just want to touch briefly on the principal of Hiddur Mitzvah.  A mitzvah is a good deed.  An example of hiddur mitzvah is the good deed of the beautification of our places of worship and ritual objects in order to glorify G-d and G-d's commandments. It is interesting that this concept of adornment and beautification  flows through many religions. So as you follow my progress as I transform ideas and pieces of cloth into meaningful and beautiful torah covers, we are fulfilling a mitzvah. 

The design for the first torah cover was a unanimous decision.  I was thrilled that the committee chose this design, because it is also one of my favorites.   The pomegranate is filled with many seeds that are enveloped in a juicy, sweet, red flesh.  It is said that there are 613 of these seeds inside of a pomegranate, which corresponds to the number of mitzvot that a Jew needs to perform before they die.  It is also interesting that the Hebrew word for pomegranate is rimmonim, which is the name for the silver sleeves that are placed on the staves of the torah. 

This is a conceptual drawing done with color pencils.  The rectangular area depicts what will be seen on the front of the cover.  I make the covers so that they are like a wrap around skirt.  This makes them easier to slip on and off, especially since I line them with a slippery fabric. 
                                                                                                                                


The next step is to enlarge this design to the actual size.  I tape a few pieces of paper together and I mark the center.  Then I redraw the original design.  Since there is such a difference in scale, I redrew it rather than just enlarge it. 

For me, this is a working drawing that will always be in a state of flux until the fabric is finally stitched down.  I don't want to say that fabric is a living medium, but it is organic.  It changes its behavior and appearance based on its environment.  So I always want to keep my mind open to being flexible and willing to change.  That doesn't just include the design, but it also includes the fabric choices and colors.  I use silk dupioni for creating my torah covers.  It is so rich in texture and has these wonderful slubs and lines and a beautiful sheen.  

So these are my fabrics that I have chosen to start with.