| Abstrakt: |
Genizot as places of hidden testimonies of German rural Jewry have increasingly become topics of research interest. This is especially true in southern Germany, where several of these unique depositories have been recovered from synagogue attics and their contents recorded and researched. Alongside the many written texts, material evidence has also been found. An exceptionally large number of textiles were recovered a few years ago from the former synagogue in Niederzissen, Rhineland-Palatinate. This find, whose content spans several centuries, contains synagogal objects as well as textiles for personal use. This article highlights objects in their materiality and design. Their corresponding levels of use and meaning are addressed and are used to illustrate conclusions surrounding the culture of Jewish rural communities and how the self-image of the community is expressed in the design of their ritual objects. |
