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Menorah Plaque

Origin
Morocco
Time Period
19th Century
Language
Hebrew
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Known in Morocco as a menorah, this plaque takes its name from the central design, which features three menorahs. Each menorah is formed by the biblical verses: Psalm 67 (center), Psalm 121 (left), and the hymn Ana be-Khoach (right).  Below them, the artist inscribed a kabbalistic prayer for livelihood, and above, a crown surmounts the Tetragrammaton (the four-letter name of God). Such plaques were hung in synagogues and Jewish homes as meditative reminders of God’s presence. The Jews of North Africa attributed amuletic properties to these plaques—the inscription above the menorahs promises that those who view this image daily will be protected from harm and are assured a place in the World to Come.