Tet on Ark
Object number
2023.4.2
Donor
D. Marks, St Albans Masorti
- Object Information
This is the outside of the Hebrew letter ‘Tet’ cut for the St Alban’s Masorti Synagogue’s Ark. ‘Tet’ makes a ‘t’ sound in the Hebrew alphabet. This ‘tet’ is one of the letter’s that was put on the Holy Ark (Aron Kodesh) at St Albans Masorti Synagogue. It makes up the sentence Psalm 133, “How good it is for people to dwell together in unit’ in Hebrew.
An Aron Kodesh is the special cupboard in which synagogues store and keep Torah scrolls. They are usually situated on the east side of a synagogue, facing Jerusalem; the congregation will face this way during prayer. They are often decorated with holy symbols and special words or phrases from Jewish scripture. Symbols such as the tree of life, pomegranates (the seeds symbolise the 613 ccommandments in the Torah) and Hebrew letters often feature on Synagogue Arks.
This particular synagogue is a Masorti synagogue. The Masorti movement is a stream of Judaism which is traditional with a modern outlook. Masorti services are often egalitarian, which means women also take on the same leadership roles as men within the synagogue and in services.
- Hear from the donor
This image was donated to the Jewish Museum London by D. Marks.
How does this image represent your Jewish identity?
‘Tet is the ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, it is said to represent the nine months of pregnancy. Shaped like a container it is also symbolic of both creation and protection. It is the first letter of the word tov, which means good and the letter itself is located on our Ark wall as part of Psalm 133, “How good it is for people to dwell together in unity.”‘
Why is this image important to you?
‘The letter was cut by my late father Derek, he kept these external pieces, glued them together and kept them as a souvenir. This object not only reminds me of my Jewish identity and community but also of my lovely, eccentric, entertaining Dad. I love looking at it and contemplating the layers of meaning when I pray in the synagogue’.
In three words, what does Judaism mean to you?
‘Family, Community, Connection’
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