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The Percelay Museum of Temple Emanu-El, established in the early 1950s at the behest of Rabbi Eli A. Bohnen, z’’l, with the support of Emanu-El member Natalie Percelay, z’’l, houses a treasure trove of Jewish ritual objects.

A museum is not simply a venue to display interesting or visually pleasing objects. Ritual objects and artwork tell us about our history, our people, our collective past, dor l’dor. The synagogue is a Beit Knesset, a house of assembly; a Beit Midrash, a house of study; and a Beit T’fillah, a house of prayer. Our museum is a vital part in helping our synagogue to bring these visions into reality. In addition, the concept of hiddur mitzvah, “to glorify the mitzvah,” is achieved by enabling us to use the objects in the museum to “beautify the commandment,” and thus enhances our performance of the mitzvah. As a communal resource, our synagogue uses many of these ritual objects in our Jewish daily, monthly or annual observances, and in rituals of the Jewish life cycle. Contemporary, as well as more traditional examples of Judaica are scattered throughout the synagogue, as well as within the four walls of our museum. The Percelay Museum is a living entity, and its precious holdings are not mere artifacts, but vital, vibrant reminders of what was then, what is now, and what can be—as we grow from strength to strength. To schedule a visit to this jewel in Temple Emanu-El’s crown, contact the Museum Director at: museum@teprov.org.

 

Museum Musings

High Holy Days 5786

 

Thou Shalt

Thou Shalt Not

Let me Count the Ways    

Jews around the world are preparing to mark the holiest days of the Jewish calendar. From Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, The Days of Awe — Yamim Nora-im — we are encouraged to examine our lives in the year past, as we consider how to approach the coming year. What did we do to make the world a better place? Or...How did we fall short?

Heshbon ha-nefesh, it is called. Taking stock. What in our lives did we do to observe mitzvot? Which did we not follow? Where did we miss the mark? Where did we succeed? These are days of reflection, of checking off which of the 613 mitzvot we have achieved, and which ones we strayed from.

In Jewish tradition and lore, there is a fruit that symbolizes these 613 mitzvot: the pomegranate or rimon as it is known in Hebrew.

According to tradition, the rimon/pomegranate has 613 seeds. Some rabbis over the centuries counted 613, some 316, some 617. Countless scholars have offered opinions and midrashim through time about the number of seeds. Many Kabbalistic texts, as well, offer a variety of interpretations. The number isn’t what counts, but rather the metaphor.

The beautiful decorative silver appointments which sit on the wooden staves of the Torah scrolls are called rimonim, a term chosen to call to mind the rabbinic explanation that we are to remember the 613 mitzvot in our Torah. In addition, the High Priests’ robes in King Solomon’s Temple, as well as the Temple itself, were adorned with pomegranates. This fruit is associated with fertility, prosperity and blessing, and is one of the “seven species” of the Promised Land. When Moses sent the scouts to survey the land of Israel before the Israelites entered it, pomegranates were among the first fruits they brought back, in addition to wheat, barley, olives, dates, grapes and figs. In The Song of Songs, the pomegranate represents the beauty of the beloved. 

If you wonder: Why Jewish ritual objects such as the rimonim atop the Torah scrolls are so beautiful, as well as so many other ritual objects are...Kiddush cups, Hannukiot...and more, read on. There is a concept in Jewish life called Hiddur Mitzvah: to embellish/to beautify the mitzvah/commandment. Just as observing a mitzvah is special, so should the accoutrement used to perform that mitzvah be special. 

The rimon/pomegranate has also become a symbol in Jewish ritual and secular art. It is no coincidence that the crown atop the Torah scrolls are called rimonim which are often adorned with little bells. As the Torah scrolls are gently carried through the synagogue, with the rimonim, surrounded by the sweetly ringing music of the bells, this act reminds worshipers of the rimonim/pomegranates and the metaphor of the 613 commandments in the Torah as the Torah is being carried to the synagogue’s congregants. 

Pomegranates are a prominent and abundant agricultural product in the land of Israel: plentiful, beautiful with their rubicund crown-like stem adorning its top. The pomegranate has thus become a representation of the State of Israel, and its likeness appears on Israeli silver, other ritual objects, paintings, challah covers, official emblems, and more.

Each time we see the autumn seeds of a pomegranate, we are reminded of the 613 mitzvot — and our call to observe as many as we can. There are 365 negative mitzvot i.e. (“You shall not steal; ”) and 248 positive mitzvot i.e. (“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”) Mitzvot are commonly known as “good deeds,” but the literal translation is a commandment from God (to be performed as a religious duty.) The seeds can also represent the blessings we pray will be ours in the year to come, ones that we hope will come to fruition.

So, when we hold...and gaze at our lovely ruby red pomegranates and then taste the sweetness therein, may we be reminded of the message of the rimonTo count our sweet blessings, and to make our lives count as we observe the mitzvot, whereby striving to do our part in making this world a better place.

As we assemble in our synagogues on Rosh Ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur, and in the days in between—the Yamim Nora-im, the Days of Awe, and observe and appreciate the rimonim atop the Torah scrolls, let us be mindful us of the words of Torah—its precepts and commandments, and its inspiration to honor its instructions by doing acts of loving kindness. Each of us can help to repair the world, one mitzvah at a time.

Wishing you all a Shanah tovah u’metukah... a good and sweet year;

And may you be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life in the year to come. G’mar hatimah tovah

 

The 3 photos pictured below are examples of rimonim in Jewish ritual and culture.

1 2 3

 

  1. Rimonim
    • Sterling Silver
    • Poland/E. Germany  c. 1800
    • Pictured above is a beautiful  silver Torah crown (adorned with pomegranate shaped rimonim and finials with little hanging bells.
    • In memory of Saul Feinberg by Irving and Archie Fain and Families
       
  2. Bowl of Pomegranates
    • Ceramic/Painted/Glazed
    • Israel 20th century
    • Example of Israeli use of the rimon as an objet d’art (and a reminder to observe and honor the mitzvot.) 
    • Collection of Minna and David Ellison
       
  3. Still Life: Rimonim
    • Oil painting
    • Reuven Rubin, Israeli artist
    • 1893-1947  Born in Romania
    • One of a plethora of artworks using the pomegranate/rimon as a symbol of the agricultural abundance of Israel. 

 

--Ruth Page, Percelay Museum Director

 

Contributions to the museum are a special way to remember those you wish to honor on memorialize. Send your donations to the synagogue, Attention: Museum


Past Musings:

 

Mon, October 20 2025 28 Tishrei 5786