Inventory number: 2061

Item category: Jewish ritual objects

Item name:

Institution: Museum Elisabeth Weeshuis

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This object was entrusted to the museum by Louis de Beer, shamash of the local synagogue, for safekeeping.

In May 1940, Louis de Beer, the shamash (caretaker) of the synagogue in Culemborg, gave this mezuzah and a tefillin set (phylacteries), his personal property, to the Oudheidkamer, predecessor of Elisabeth Weeshuis. The previous museum curator states that they were brought for safekeeping. De Beer survived the war and lived in Culemborg until his death the 1960s. No record exists of the museum contacting De Beer to return the objects or to acquire them as a gift. The objects are mentioned in the Museum Acquisitions 1940-1948 report, Amsterdam, 1999.