Prayer shawl from Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A black prayer shawl (tallit gadol) with a repeating pattern of nine, embroidered, seven-branched menorahs lined across each end. Strips of white grosgrain ribbon have been appliquéd above and below the Menorah bands. Strips of black silk braid have been sewn across the middle of the lower ribbons. A neckband made from a narrow band of black fabric (atarah or "crown") sewn on the top center edge of the shawl has been embroidered in silver thread with the Hebrew tallit blessing and is surrounded on either side by a seven-branched menorah. Each corner of the tallit has been reinforced with a black square of fabric sewn on the verso of the tallit and threaded through with a long, white, silk tassel (tzitziot). The shawl edges have been trimmed in black ribbon.

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