One of World’s Most Rare Collections of Jewish Art Objects Housed in London

What is perhaps one of the most singular collections of Jewish art objects in the world is to be found in the Jewish Museum, housed at the International Art Galleries in London. The ancient and invaluable Torahs crowned in jewelled splendor and covered with cloths of the most intricate and delicate embroidery in gold and silver, the carved candelabra, the equally delicate and beautiful Menorahs, the brass and gold candles, the gold and silver Kiddush cups, the Chanukah lamps of quaint and beautiful construction-they all stand in silent defiance of the popular assumption that there is no Jewish art.

If Jewish art is to be measured by paintings, etchings, sculpture, and the like, then Jewish art as such is only now awakening to consciousness and artistic creation. Jews have adhered too well to the commandment “Thou shalt not make graven images,” so that like “Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Huri, of the tribe of Judah,” the Jew has devoted himself rather “to devise curious works, to work in gold and in silver and in brass, and in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning works,” and has created instead a living art in his religion.

The articles in the Jewish Museum, numbering sixteen hundred pieces in all, are invaluable not only because they are rare examples of ancient ritual accoutrements, but because they constitute one of the most important exhibits of Judaica now on view. Gentiles as well as Jews have shown a keen interest, and in fact, so enthusiastic has been the reaction of the non-Jew that attendants are continually questioned regarding the religious significance of the various objects.

Jews the world over owe a debt of gratitude to Schachne Moses Salomon, through whose perseverance and generosity this collection has been made possible. Mr. Salomon, who is a well known art collector, has designated part of the International Art Galleries (also known as “Salomon House”) as the temporary home of the Jewish Museum. Eventually the British Government will acquire these treasures, but it is Mr. Salomon’s hope that his collection will, in the long run, find itself in its rightful home-Jerusalem.

Many of the articles date back to the fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and are rare examples of their kind. An ancient Torah unearthed in an obscure cellar in Poland, an ark curtain dug out of the earth in Spain, a Torah crown found in Portugal, a “Finger of God” from Venice-they are all the remains of a persecuted people who, driven from their homes, their very lives in danger, still found the courage and the time to bury their holy relics to save them from the desecration of the infidel. If in dollars and cents Mr. Salomon values his collection at $3,000,000, then its historical value is almost incalculable. He has lately purchased from the Soviet Government many of the objects they confiscated from synagogues and has added them to his collection.

Throughout the entire decorative scheme of the Jewish Museum, Mr. Salomon has maintained a consistent Jewish spirit, so much so that even the panels of the doorway leading into the Museum are guarded by the Lion of David, topped by a “Mogen-Dovid.” Curiously enough, a primitive and early example of Christ, dating back to the eleventh century, is also hung at the entrance of the Museum. Those who have been struck by the incongruity of seeing the picture amongst such Jewish surroundings and have questioned Mr. Salomon regarding it, received a reply of:

“Well, wasn’t Jesus Christ a Jew?”

In order to confirm his interest in Christ, as a Jew and as a personality, Mr. Salomon has an equally valuable collection of pictures and altar-pieces of Christ, the Madonna, the Crucifixion, etc. It is Mr. Salomon’s contention that some of the greatest authorities of Christian religious art are Jews.

Before a group of newspaper reporters and art critics (most of whom were non-Jews) Mr. Salomon was heard to remark, not without a mischievous twinkle in his eye:

“See, here in this Jewish Museum we have no guns, no cannon, no spears or swords, not even the knives with which we were supposed to have murdered innocent Christian children in order to baptize our own in blood.”

Perhaps the greatest tribute that has been paid to him and which sums up his character and personality, was made by a well known Gentile art critic who said:

“A personal friend of many of the most highly placed persons in English and Continental society, a man who has had the entree to the Czarist court… Mr. Salomon has never forgotten that he is a Jew. Pride of race, a sincere belief in the future of his people, radiate from this kindly and courteous personality when he talks of the trials and triumphs of his race.”