Mid-20th Century Silver Torah Pointer-Yad by Yehia Yemini, Jerusalem

Handmade silver and silver filigree Torah pointer, Yehia Yemini, Jerusalem, circa 1940.
Decorated with Yemeni design, silver filigree work on the top, around the shaft, and next to the finger.
Set with carnelian stones around the shaft.
Stamped on small silver plaque: Jerusalem and St. 925.

Yehia Yemini Born in 1897 into a family of San'a silversmiths, Yehia Yemini reached Jerusalem with his family at the young age of three. When Bezalel founded its Silver Department In 1908, Yemini became one of its employees, and helped other Yemenites to forge Bezalel's unique synthesis of East and West. After the dismissals of 1914, Yemini joined three groups of Jerusalem craftsmen who specialized in silver crafting in the manner of Bezalel: "Keter," "Kav Lavan," and "Sharar" (directed respectively by Shneior, Ossanovitch and Rabinovitz). Yemini was exceptionally talented and skilled in blending the traditions of Yemenite silver work with the design directions supplied by Ze'ev Raban. He established his workshop in the ground floor of his home in a Jerusalem neighborhood, known as Neveh Bezalel. To supplement his livelihood, he also worked as a torah scribe. In time, his craftsmanship gained prestige, both local and international. In 1931, he won a silver medal at the Paris world exhibition and in 1932, he won a gold medal at the Yarid Hamizrach exhibition in Tel Aviv. In 1937, he fashioned the Torah scroll cover and receptacle for the letter of goodwill, which were presented to King George VI on the occasion of his coronation. Yemini continued to actively work and produce Jewish ritual articles of filigree silver until the age of 85. He passed away in Jerusalem in 1983.

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