Embroidered circumcision cushion from the Ottoman Empire

This ceremonial cushion served to receive the infant during the circumcision ceremony, presenting him to the godfather and the circumciser (mohel) in a solemn setting. In the communities of the Ottoman Empire, these cushions represent a refined textile art: they are embroidered with gold and silver thread on silk, adorned with Hebrew blessings, floral motifs, and sometimes protective symbols. They formed part of the ceremonial textiles surrounding birth and the child's entry into the covenant. This object testifies to the importance accorded to finery and embroidery in the rites of passage of Ottoman Jews.