CCAR RESPONSA
New American Reform Responsa
27. Wimpeln
QUESTION: A family whose grandparents came from Bavaria possesses several Torah Wimpeln which were used to bind the Torah in the small German community from which the family came. They wish to recreate this custom for their new born son and want to know whether this is appropriate. (Charles Harris, Pittsburgh PA)ANSWER: The custom of creating a Torah binder from the cloth used during the circumcision has a strong tradition in various rural sections of Germany. The oldest known example can be traced to 1685 but the tradition may be older. Such linens would not survive indefinitely so no earlier samples exist. Usually the name of the lad, the date of birth, his parent’s name, and the hope “may he live a good life, reach maturity and be blessed with a good marriage” was inscribed. Other statements have also been found on these Wimpeln. A sample of such binders has been published by the Judah Magnes Museum (Ruth Eis Torah Binders). Some binders were hand painted, others stitched by folk artists, members of the family, or professionals in the community. The binder was then presented in the synagogue when the lad was old enough to participate in a service. I remember presenting such a binder in my father’s synagogue in Augsburg at the age of three. The minhag usually called for it to be used again at the time of the child’s Bar Mitzvah, and the shabbat immediately before the wedding as well as other personal occasions in the life of the individual. It would be appropriate to reestablish this custom for this family and others. This will provide a close link with the synagogue throughout their life and the life of the child.March 1986
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