Embroidered towels and napkins for the ritual washing of the hands.
Notes
Known as “tsherves” or “antikas” in Ottoman communities, these towels were preserved by families and sometimes handed down as dowry from mother to daughter.
Translations
Hebrewמגבת לנטילת ידיים
GermanHandtücher
RussianПолотенце
FrenchServiettes pour l’ablution des mains
DutchHanddoeken
ItalianAsciugamani per il lavaggio delle mani.
CzechRučníky
HungarianTörölköző
SpanishToallas para el lavado de manos
GreekΠετσέτες για το πλύσιμο των χεριών
PolishRęczniki
Arabicمنشفة غسل اليدين
Yiddishהאַנטעך פֿאַר נטילת ידיים
LadinoTevajas
Image information
Thessaloniki (Ottoman Empire), end of 19th century. Linen, coton, golden thread, 183,5 x 49 cm. Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme, Paris, France. Photo: Niels Forg, mahJ.