Shiviti 1921

natural stone pattern

wood texture

naturalistic pattern

wave pattern

organic pattern

wooden texture

intricate pattern

pattern repetition

layered pattern

funky pattern

"Shiviti" (1921) is a rare example of a handwritten *kiddush* scroll, a Jewish religious text used to sanctify the Sabbath. Created by an anonymous artist, this scroll is a visually striking piece of art that incorporates a traditional seven-branched menorah within a complex decorative pattern. The inscription within the scroll is in Hebrew and includes a passage from Psalm 16:8, "I have set the Lord always before me" ("Shiviti"). This scroll, now housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, highlights the intricate art form and cultural significance of Jewish religious texts.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

The word shiviti (שויתי) comes from the Hebrew root shavah ( שוה) meaning “to set or to place.” This comes from the psalm, “I have set the Lord continually before me.” This verse can also be read as “I am ever mindful of the Lord’s presence.” Its purpose is to serve as a visible, textual reminder of the divine presence by decoratively displaying various names and attributes of God. By focusing on the name of God, the believer is called beyond the physical object to a space of spiritual significance. Shiviti such as this ornamental watercolor on the left would often hang on the wall of a synagogue. The central menorah shape serves not only as decoration but also as a symbolic reminder of the Temple in Jerusalem, the ancient place where God’s presence was believed to rest on earth.Shiviti can also be of a more individual devotional nature. The amulet to the right also bears inscriptions of the names of God. Centered on a similar menorah shape, the amulet reminds its wearer to personally fix him- or herself on God’s holiness.