Some religious objects begin their lives as everyday items. They are made up or reused in the synagogue and thus take on a religious function. Such is the case with this ochre-yellow silk parochet by Chaim Hollander (1817-?). Chaim Hollander was born in 1817 in The Hague. Not much is known about his life. He is a jeweller and lives in Antwerp for a while before coming to Amsterdam. Chaim marries Rebekka and they prosper financially. Indeed, in 1857, the couple exchanges a house on Muidergracht, in the poor Jewish quarter, for one on Keizersgracht. Unfortunately, their life together came to an end that same year, as Rebekka died. In memory of her, Chaim donates this Torah curtain to the Ashkenazi community. As can be seen from the small seams just below the shield-shaped middle section, a dress of beautiful fabric was made up for the curtain. Could it have been a dress of Rebekah? Unfortunately, we do not know.

Chaim left for Paris in 1863, but the curtain remains in the Obbene Shul. This small synagogue was built in 1685. The Great Synagogue from 1671 soon became too small, as many Jews from Germany and Eastern Europe came to the Netherlands, mostly fleeing persecution. The new synagogue gets its name because it is located in the space above (‘obben’) the meat market. Before the synagogue was built in 1685, a wooden meat hall stood on this spot behind the Great Synagogue. This was demolished for the new building that can accommodate 390 people. The synagogue was intended for men of lower social status. Indeed, many Ashkenazi Jews were poor and lived in poor conditions in the Jewish quarter, near today's Waterlooplein. The Obbene Shul is part of the synagogue complex that has housed the Jewish Museum since 1986. Today, Jewish Museum Junior uses the building.