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🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

Hidden in Jerusalem's Old City, collector stumbles upon rare Jewish treasure from Morocco

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • A collector discovered a rare 1805 mortar and pestle with Hebrew inscriptions in Jerusalem's Old City.
  • The object, engraved in Marrakesh for a rabbi, is believed to be a significant Judaica find.
  • The collector found the item by chance in a small antique shop, highlighting the possibility of historical discoveries in unexpected places.

A collector of Judaica has made an exceptional find in Jerusalem's Old City, discovering a rare mortar and pestle with Hebrew inscriptions dating back to approximately 1805. The object was engraved in Marrakesh, Morocco, for a rabbi who was an emissary from Jerusalem and descended from a prominent rabbinical family.

As a collector, one always hopes for a special find, preferably an important discovery. That rarely happens. In more than 50 years of collecting Judaica, the discovery of this special mortar can safely be called exceptional.

— Willy LindwerDescribing his excitement and the significance of his find.

Willy Lindwer, the collector, stumbled upon the artifact in a small shop in the Old City's Christian Quarter while having tea with antique dealers. Initially, the dark, patina-covered object with barely legible Hebrew text did not immediately reveal its significance. However, a friend's closer examination suggested it was a very old piece, not a forgery.

It can’t be a forgery, it is a very old piece.

— Lindwer's friendExamining the mortar and assessing its authenticity.

After purchasing the item and cleaning it at home, Lindwer contacted Judaica experts. Together, they identified the engraving date and its origin. The mortar itself is thought to be of an even earlier date. It was donated by Rabbi Josef Delouya in Marrakesh to Rabbi Hezekiah Josef Kovo of Jerusalem, whose son later served as chief rabbi in the Land of Israel.

Isn’t it remarkable to find a unique object that made the journey from Marrakesh to Jerusalem a few hundred years ago?

— Willy LindwerReflecting on the historical journey of the discovered mortar.

Lindwer described the find as remarkable, emphasizing how special it is to discover an object that traveled from Marrakesh to Jerusalem centuries ago. The shopkeeper mentioned acquiring it among old household goods, underscoring the serendipitous nature of the discovery. Lindwer noted that finding such a historically important object by chance in 2026 felt like finding a needle in a haystack, proving that significant discoveries are still possible.

How special to discover such a historically important object by chance in 2026 in a small shop in the Old City, like a needle in a haystack. It is still possible.

— Willy LindwerExpressing astonishment at the serendipitous nature of the discovery.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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