One of the finest Jewish collections in Europe includes artifacts dating from the 17th century to the 1930s, among which are true treasures of Jewish secular and sacred art, gathered through the passion and dedication of Jewish communities active since the early 20th century to preserve and promote their culture and traditions. Private collectors played an important role in these efforts, including Maksymilian Goldstein, a member of a well-known Jewish family from Lviv. This collector, an expert in numismatics and initiator of the Jewish Museum in Lviv, amassed numerous interesting items that today reflect his diverse artistic and folkloric interests. Part of Goldstein’s collection is also featured in this exhibition, alongside artifacts from pre-war Lviv museums, synagogues, and other private collections.
The assembled Judaica primarily includes exceptional examples of artistic craftsmanship, featuring items made of silver, ivory, wood, ceramics, glass, and various metals. Depending on their purpose, they form several thematic groups. These include costly and decorative synagogue objects, ritual items associated with Jewish holidays and traditional family ceremonies, as well as exquisite jewelry, clothing elements, and Jewish visual art.
A significant, if not the most significant, source of insight into Jewish culture is its holidays; thus, a substantial portion of the collection relates to the Sabbath, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah), Passover (Pesach), and Shavuot.
Among these, the largest group consists of items related to the spring holiday of Passover, commemorating the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt. These mainly include vessels from the holiday table service: original boxes for matzah and Passover dishes, Seder plates, bowls, pitchers, and colorful glass goblets.
The dishes, decorated with vibrant underglaze painting featuring floral motifs and Hebrew inscriptions, were crafted in pre-war faience factories in Lubycza Królewska and Potylicz. These locations also produced charming animal figurines (duck, swan, dog, lion, lamb). Beautiful faience pieces, both functional and decorative, have survived in individual examples.
Among the unique items related to Jewish holidays, there is a collection of intricate paper cuttings used to decorate homes for Shavuot, a unique ram’s horn Shofar connected to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and an extensive collection of Hanukkah oil lamps made of stone, clay, faience, brass, and silver, as well as original children’s toys called dreidels.
The section of artifacts related to synagogue liturgy includes a large collection of curtains and valances for the Torah ark and Torah mantles. Many of the textiles, made from expensive materials and adorned with intricate embroidery and appliqué, bear symbols of Judaism and information about the donors and the intentions behind their gifts. Among the rare synagogue items are copper ablution vessels, Mizrach plaques (cut-out tablets hung on the eastern wall of the synagogue), and unique prayer lecterns.
The rich collection also includes elements of men’s and women’s attire. In men’s prayer garments, richly embroidered collars and belts for kittels, skullcaps, and adornments for tallitot known as atarot are particularly impressive. The women’s attire, notable for its opulence, is represented by elaborate headdresses, breastplates, and foreheads. The women’s breastplates feature intricate szychowy embroidery made from thin gold or silver strips stretched over a wire frame, forming geometric or floral patterns.
An exhibition highlight is undoubtedly the folk art items. The collection includes original works by Jakub Dreisin, from Alexandria near Równe, a cantor and later sofer skilled in calligraphy, who reduced Hebrew script to microscopic size. Using this script, he inscribed songs, prayers, and blessings on chicken and pigeon eggs, grains of peas, placed inside bottles, glass tubes, or behind glass frames.
Completing the main exhibition is a section of objects related to Jewish family life, such as ceremonial bread, cups, and wedding rings.
Beautiful watercolors, drawings, and lithographs depicting Jewish ceremonies, family celebrations, customs, and places and people significant to Jewish culture enrich this fascinating exhibition that blends art and ethnography.
