Two tapestries flank the doors into the sanctuary. Each is framed by a pair of columns, Yakhin and Boaz, which stood before the Temple in Jerusalem, with a menorah and a pair of shofars at the top and tallit fringes at the foot. On the Rosh Hashanah tapestry a congregation in white prays below a mountain from which a flame rises, and across the image run the thirteen attributes of God's mercy. On the Yom Kippur tapestry a double line of figures climbs toward the Temple beneath the words "On Rosh Hashanah it is written and on the fast of Yom Kippur it is sealed," with "but repentance, prayer and righteous deeds avert the severe decree" below.
The text
ה' ה' אל רחום וחנון ארך אפים ורב חסד ואמת נצר חסד לאלפים נשא עון ופשע וחטאה ונקה
The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth, keeping kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, and clearing.
Exodus 34:6 to 7, the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, on the tapestry with the flame
בראש השנה יכתבון וביום צום כפור יחתמון... ותשובה ותפלה וצדקה מעבירין את רע הגזרה
On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on the fast of Yom Kippur it is sealed... But repentance, prayer, and charity avert the severity of the decree.
Unetaneh Tokef, from the High Holy Day liturgy, on the tapestry with the procession
Studio of Arnold Schwarzbart
Arnold Schwarzbart ז״ל · 1942 – 2015 · Knoxville, Tennessee