Minneapolis Institute of Art

Buckle

Unidentified

Medium

Silver

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Yom Kippur , or the Day of Atonement, is one of the most revered holidays of the Jewish year. Traditionally, Orthodox Jewish worshippers have worn a white gown on this day to symbolize purity and the hope of their sins being absolved. The only adornment of such gowns could be belts with special silver belt buckles, which are engraved with either biblical quotes or names, as may be demonstrated by the center inscription of this buckle which says the name “Shoshana” (שושנה). The ten days preceding Yom Kippur, known as the Yaimim Nora’im , or Days of Awe, are to be spent in repentance before God and neighbors, as Yom Kippur is considered the last day for one to be forgiven for the year and be inscribed in God’s “Book of Life” for another year. Thus, a common greeting during the Days of Awe is the blessing “May you be inscribed in the Book of Life.”

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