Scherenschnitte
Dublin Core
Title
Scherenschnitte
Subject
Paper cutting
Description
Scherenschnitte is the art of cutting paper into designs. The German word means “paper cutting” or “paper snipping.” The practice of paper cutting actually began in China and made its way, as a folk art form, to Germany in the 16th Century. It was popular in Poland from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. This piece was done by Samuel Shore, the first president of Sons of Jacob synagogue, and is on loan to us for this exhibit by the Sons of Jacob Congregation and the Rhode Island Jewish Museum. It was found only a few years ago behind a desk in the synagogue’s office by its President, Harold Silverman. The scherenschnitte itself is a collage of paper, ink, tempera, and graphite (23.3 x 27.5 in.). It has been carefully restored to show its magnificent colors and design.
The signs of the zodiac go back over 4,000 years to the Sumerians, whose symbols continue to be used to this day.
The various signs were put into medallions, or separate small pictures, often surrounded by pictures of nature and with the Hebrew name. Here, the months go in the following order from the top right hand corner and moving down the page and continuing to the left, then up the page and across the top to the right:
Adar Shevat Tevet Kislev Cheshvan Tishrei Elul Av Tammuz (note the similarity to Cheshvan) Sivan Iyar Nisan
Mazzal/Mazel in Hebrew today means “luck,” as in mazel tov, “good luck.” However, in terms of the zodiac, it can mean “luck/fortune” or “sign,” as in one of the signs of the zodiac. Thus the good luck comes from the particular zodiac sign when the statement is made.
The following is the translation and attribution of the various Hebrew writing in the inside of the work1:
I. The inner ring is a selection of verses. Starting to the immediate left of the crown is says:
1. “By the mouths of the upright are You acclaimed, by the lips of the righteous are You blessed, by the tongue of the pious are You sanctified, among the holy are You praised.”
It continues down the left side to the angle.
[This is from the first prayer of the Sabbath morning service (Shaharit). It is Nusach Sefard.
2. Starting at the small bend on the right and continuing across the bottom to the next bend where no. 1 ends.
“Know before whom you stand, before the King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.”
3. Running up the right side to the first bend.
“Shun evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it” [Psalms, 34:15]
4. From the bend to the crown on the right side.
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, His ears are attentive to their cry.”
II. Straight down from the Ten Commandments.
1. Made by the hands of Shemariah son of Hayyim Zvi Shore.
2. Right above the menorah.
Line 1 – “I am ever mindful of the Lord’s Presence” [Psalms, 16:8].
Line 2 – “I wait for Your deliverance, O Lord” [Genesis, 49:18].
3. Top of pillars.
Right side – “Open the gates of righteousness for me that I may enter them and praise the Lord” [Psalms, 118:19].
Left side – “This is the gateway to the Lord – the righteous enter through it” [Psalms, 118:20].
Middle of the menorah – “Let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand” [Numbers, 8:2].
1 Translated by Dr. Morris Faierstein.
The signs of the zodiac go back over 4,000 years to the Sumerians, whose symbols continue to be used to this day.
The various signs were put into medallions, or separate small pictures, often surrounded by pictures of nature and with the Hebrew name. Here, the months go in the following order from the top right hand corner and moving down the page and continuing to the left, then up the page and across the top to the right:
Adar Shevat Tevet Kislev Cheshvan Tishrei Elul Av Tammuz (note the similarity to Cheshvan) Sivan Iyar Nisan
Mazzal/Mazel in Hebrew today means “luck,” as in mazel tov, “good luck.” However, in terms of the zodiac, it can mean “luck/fortune” or “sign,” as in one of the signs of the zodiac. Thus the good luck comes from the particular zodiac sign when the statement is made.
The following is the translation and attribution of the various Hebrew writing in the inside of the work1:
I. The inner ring is a selection of verses. Starting to the immediate left of the crown is says:
1. “By the mouths of the upright are You acclaimed, by the lips of the righteous are You blessed, by the tongue of the pious are You sanctified, among the holy are You praised.”
It continues down the left side to the angle.
[This is from the first prayer of the Sabbath morning service (Shaharit). It is Nusach Sefard.
2. Starting at the small bend on the right and continuing across the bottom to the next bend where no. 1 ends.
“Know before whom you stand, before the King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.”
3. Running up the right side to the first bend.
“Shun evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it” [Psalms, 34:15]
4. From the bend to the crown on the right side.
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, His ears are attentive to their cry.”
II. Straight down from the Ten Commandments.
1. Made by the hands of Shemariah son of Hayyim Zvi Shore.
2. Right above the menorah.
Line 1 – “I am ever mindful of the Lord’s Presence” [Psalms, 16:8].
Line 2 – “I wait for Your deliverance, O Lord” [Genesis, 49:18].
3. Top of pillars.
Right side – “Open the gates of righteousness for me that I may enter them and praise the Lord” [Psalms, 118:19].
Left side – “This is the gateway to the Lord – the righteous enter through it” [Psalms, 118:20].
Middle of the menorah – “Let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand” [Numbers, 8:2].
1 Translated by Dr. Morris Faierstein.
Creator
Samuel Shore
Publisher
Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association
Date
1910s
Files
Collection
Citation
Samuel Shore, “Scherenschnitte,” Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association, accessed April 28, 2024, https://rijha.omeka.net/items/show/18.