Ceremonial objects in the Great Synagogue, Vilna, 1635

The following is the inventory of ceremonial objects damaged in an attack on the synagogue on 6 March 1635. The list was drawn up in preparation for claiming reparation.

18 Torah scrolls

Torah scrolls with handles decorated with gold-plated silver. The scrolls were dressed in mantles made from brocade, velvet, and satin embroidered with silver and gold thread, pearls, and coral.

72 finials

Of the 72 finials, 24 were gold-plated silver, 28 were silver only partly gold-plated, and 20 were pure silver.

30 shields of silver or gold plate, studded with precious Stones

Of the 30 shields, 10 were large and 20, on which there were stars and chains, were smaller.

14 pointers of precious metals

Each of the pointers was shaped like a slim forearm ending in a hand with an outstretched index finger and had a chain. One of the pointers had two chains.

17 parokhot to be hung on the ark on different occasions

In the original document the parokhot were divided into three groups and the second and third groups categorized as listed below:

(a) A parokhet in a red Chinese fabric, probably cotton or silk, embroidered with gold letters; an antique parokhet in velvet decorated with an appliqued pattern in blue, with tassels; a parokhet in an old-gold brocade with a blue lining. The parokhet had fringes sewn onto it.

(b) Plain parokhot: a parokhet in green velvet; a parokhet in red velvet; a parokhet in white brocade;12 a parokhet in white satin.

(c) Parokhot reflecting a passion for bright colours and variegated ornamentation in the oriental style; a parokhet in orange satin with a central panel of red velvet with gold passementerie; a parokhet in black velvet with a lining in green satin, decorated throughout with gold passementerie; a parokhet in pink velvet with appliqued patterns in blue satin; a parokhet in velvet framed by wide strips of red silk fabric with silver passementerie; a parokhet in green brocade framed by appliqued patterns in red satin decorated with tassels made from silver and gold thread.