Memory Table for Dear Departed Ones, New York: A.M. Bleichrode, 1874

Memory Table for Dear Departed Ones, New York: A.M. Bleichrode, 1874

Every year on the anniversary of the Hebrew date of the death of a close relative, Jews traditionally mark the anniversary with the recitation of special prayers and the lighting of a long candle which burns for twenty-four hours. This memorial plaque was produced using three languages—German, Hebrew, and English—to reach as large an audience as possible. The publisher left space on the pages of the open book so that the owner could record the names and dates of death of the dear departed. In this example, the dates are recorded following the Hebrew month and year, and every year the owner would need to calculate when that Hebrew date fell on the Gregorian calendar.

Physical Description

Ink on paper (22 1/2 x 16 1/2 in.). Browned.