This papercut was made by the artist in honor of his deceased mother and father, Hayim and Sara, whose names and date of death appear in the central Hebrew inscription: “Died in the year 1917, the 20th day of the month of Shevet, my father Hayyim Zvi, son of Abraham Shore of blessed memory”, and “Died in the 1922, on the 27th day in the month of Iyar, Sarah Shore, daughter of Reb Eliayhu, of blessed memory. On panel above the double, “An eternal memorial — by Shamiyahu, son of Hayyim Zvi Shore. (מעשי ידי בנס יחי)




The papercut features a densely decorated net. In the center are two symbols of the ancient Temple of Jerusalem: the Menorah (the seven-branch candelabrum) and the two pilasters flanking it (Boaz and Yachin, according to their biblical names). Pairs of animals populate the scene: lions and stags-typical motifs of Jewish European imagery—as well as monkeys, peacocks and, on the bottom, what may be tigers. All around the central section are zodiac signs, inscribed with their Hebrew names; swirling branches, flowers, and grapes run along the outer edges. It was made by Sam Shore, a Jewish Russian immigrant who settled in Providence, Rhode Island. Shore became both president and artist “Sons of Jacob” Synagogue, for which he painted the murals in the main sanctuary. “Sons of Jacob” is the city's earliest orthodox synagogue (founded in 1896), and is to this day listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is indeed an excellent example of the rich and imaginative iconography of Eastern European papercuts and synagogues (found both on painted murals and carved Torah arks).

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