In
Jewish literature, the crown often represents the majesty of the TORAH.
A TORAH crown has tubular holders or cylinders which fit over the upper
spindles of the EYTZ CHAIM. The SNOA has three such crowns:
A silver crown made in the 18th century, is a design from Amsterdam. It
was made by the silversmith Pieter van Hoven (1658-1735), as shown by the
VH silver mark on the crown. The top is closed in an acanthus leaf motif,
typical of the period. The tip is a finial of a baluster set into a tulip.
The bottom band has shapes simulating the appearance of precious stones.
Along the bar which connects the cylindrical holders is the inscription
in Portuguese: ELIAO DE M. CRASTO FES KODES SENDO HATAN BEREYSHIT NO. ANNO
5472 (Eliao de M. Crasto consecrated on the occasion of being CHATAN BEREYSHIT
in the year 5472). The CHATAN BEREYSHIT is an annual honor given on the
Festival of the Rejoicing of the Law (SIMCHAT TORAH). This holiday marks
the completion of the cycle of reading the TORAH. One member of the congregation
is given the honor of being the “bridegroom” (CHATAN) to the conclusion
of the reading from Deuteronomy. He is known as the CHATAN TORAH. Another
is given the honor to the beginning portion in Genesis, and is called CHATAN
BEREYSHIT. We know from the inscription that De Crasto was so honored in
the Hebrew year 5472, corresponding to the secular date 1711. The crown’s
Amsterdam mark, however, is the year letter “D”, which represents 1714,
or three years after the event. The explanation is simple. Due to the distance
and difficulty in communicating between Curaçao and Holland, the
crown was made after the honor was given, but the inscription retained
the year of the honor. The inscription was most probably done by the silversmith
himself as it has a professional block letter look which could, most likely,
not have been engraved in Curaçao at that time.
A silver crown made in the 18th century, is a design from Amsterdam. It
was made by the silversmith Pieter van Hoven (1658-1735), as shown by the
VH silver mark on the crown. The top is closed in an acanthus leaf motif,
typical of the period. The tip is a finial of a baluster set into a tulip.
The bottom band has shapes simulating the appearance of precious stones.
Along the bar which connects the cylindrical holders is the inscription
in Portuguese: ELIAO DE M. CRASTO FES KODES SENDO HATAN BEREYSHIT NO. ANNO
5472 (Eliao de M. Crasto consecrated on the occasion of being CHATAN BEREYSHIT
in the year 5472). The CHATAN BEREYSHIT is an annual honor given on the
Festival of the Rejoicing of the Law (SIMCHAT TORAH). This holiday marks
the completion of the cycle of reading the TORAH. One member of the congregation
is given the honor of being the “bridegroom” (CHATAN) to the conclusion
of the reading from Deuteronomy. He is known as the CHATAN TORAH. Another
is given the honor to the beginning portion in Genesis, and is called CHATAN
BEREYSHIT. We know from the inscription that De Crasto was so honored in
the Hebrew year 5472, corresponding to the secular date 1711. The crown’s
Amsterdam mark, however, is the year letter “D”, which represents 1714,
or three years after the event. The explanation is simple. Due to the distance
and difficulty in communicating between Curaçao and Holland, the
crown was made after the honor was given, but the inscription retained
the year of the honor. The inscription was most probably done by the silversmith
himself as it has a professional block letter look which could, most likely,
not have been engraved in Curaçao at that time.
The
second silver crown has a history of its own. Also made in 1714, it was
given to the congregation in 1716, in memory of Mordecai de Crasto, the
father of Eliao de M. Crasto. The family had apparently ordered two crowns
from Amsterdam: they used one to honor the son’s being a CHATAN, while
the other became an appropriate offering at the death of the father. This
open variety has vertical rays which do not join at the top. The acanthus
leaf motif was used by the silversmith for both his designs. The lower
band here is similar to the closed crown, although it is more elaborately
decorated. This crown is also inscribed, this time in a nonprofessional,
hand-engraved Hebrew which may have been done locally: “In memory of Mordecai
Hezekiah Namias de Crasto, on the day of his death 13 Iyar 5476 who did
sacred work for Holy Congregation Mikvé Israel”. The date corresponds
to May 5, 1716. This “open” crown is usually put on the TORAH carried by
the CHATAN BEREYSHIT, while the closed crown is for the CHATAN TORAH.
The
third crown is simple gilded silver KETER. Probably designed by Johannes
Schouten of Amsterdam, it is inscribed “Ishac Haim Rodriguez De Costa 5520”
(1760). The crown was probably inscribed for the year he became Vice President
of the SNOA, which is the year the crown was bought. Evidence, however,
shows that the crown was not donated to the SNOA until the death of his
wife Sara in 1803.
The
TAS or breastplate hanging from the top of the TORAH has a 1721Amsterdam
year mark and the master mark of Pelgrorn Potholt (1680-1751). It is a
shell and broken scroll Louis XIV motif. Although it used to have several
small, interchangeable center panels engraved in Hebrew for use on special
occasions- such as the SHABBAT, each major holiday, and the new month-
this one has only the L’ROSHEY CHODASHIM plate for the new month left.
The reverse is inscribed “Memoria de Yshac & Esther de Marchena”. The
breastplate was probably made to commemorate one occasion and was later
inscribed in memory of these two pillars of the congregation. (ALP)
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