Objects

It was donated by Malgorzata Melchior; it was part of the collection of the donor's husband, a history enthusiast who collected objects representing the heritage of Polish Jews.

The talit was kept in the bag to protect it from damage or soiling. Talit (Yiddish: tallit) is a prayer shawl, a rectangular scarf worn by religious Jews on the head or shoulders during prayer. Tassels called tzitzit are tied at the corners of the shawl to remind people to keep the commandments. The talit kept in this particular bag has not survived.

The handbag in navy blue is sewn from two rectangular pieces of velvet. One of the rectangles, being longer, forms a flap enabling to close the bag. In the central part of the longer piece of fabric, the word טלית (Hebrew: talit) is embroidered with gold thread; a mother-of-pearl button is sewn on the upper part, on which the flap can be fastened. Inside, the bag is lined with a cotton canvas lining. NR