Rare and Highly Important Silver Gilt "Jerusalem of Gold" Tiara. Probably Morroco, 20th century. Featuring a depiction of the Jerusalem Temple behind the Western Wall, flanked by twin plumed birds with "stones," and inscribed on domed plaques, Aaleh et Yershalayim al Rosh SimchatiI shall place Jerusalem above my highest joys. Ht. 5-1/4 in. 13.cm; Diam. 7-1/2 in. 19 cm. (With later fitted case.) The birds at the sides are ornamental elements used in Moroccan Jewish art. Similarly stylized birds were employed exclusively in Jewish jewelry in Morocco, although Muslims had also begun using these as well. See cover illustration in Jewish Life in Morocco, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1983, and illustrations on p. 421. This Jerusalem of Gold Tiara is based upon a woman's headdress discussed in the Talmud. The Mishnah in Tractate Shabbat in discussing the items which may be on the Sabbath, states that a woman may not wear an ir shel zahav – literally, "a city of gold," when leaving her home on Shabbat. Rabbi Yehudah explains in (JT Shabbat 1:6) kegon Yerushalayim dedahab Such as a `Jerusalem of Gold.' (See BT Shabbat 59a) The Jerusalem Talmud (Sotah 9:15) discusses bridal tiaras which are in the form of ir shel zahav a city of gold, the city being Jerusalem. The Talmud tells the story of a gift that the great 1st-=2nd cent. CE sage Rabbi Akiva gave to his wife Rachel. The tale of Rabbi Akiva and Rachel is a classic one known by every religious Jewish child.(See BT Nedarim 5Oa; BT Ketubot 63a.) Rachel, the daughter of Kalba Savua (or Ben Kalba Savua), one of the wealthiest men in Jerusalem, came upon amoung her father's many employees, an am ha-aretz, an ignorant, unlettered shepherd named Akiva. Rachel, however, had the insight to see a man of modest and noble character. She also discerned innate brilliance and enormous potential. She told Akiva that if he devoted his life to studying Torah in the Bet HaMidrash she would marry him. Akiva took her advice, turned to Torah study, and then they married clandestinely. When Rachel's father learned of her act, he banished them both from his estate. They subsequently went through great tribulations. She was compelled to sell straw. Once while sleeping in a barn, Rachel awoke to find straw in her hair, Akiva then promises her that when he is able to do so, he would buy her a "Jerusalem of Gold" to cover her head. At one point Rachel even sells hair in order to sustain them. She encourages Akiva to go off to study Torah for twelve years, and he returns home followed by 12,000 disciples. As he stands beneath his window he overhears a conversation between Rachel and some neighbors, with one saying to her, "How long will you remain a widow whose husband is present but absent?" Rabbi Akiva hears his wife reply: "If he would listen to me, he would go back to the Bet Hamidrash for another 12 years." Whereupon Rabbi Akiva turns back, studies for another 12 years, and returns with 24,000 students, the greatest Torah scholar of his age. All of the townspeople come out to greet them. So does his wife, Rachel, who appears in ragged clothes and who refuses to heed the advice of neighbors who urge her to dress in suitable attire. When his students catch sight of this woman in rags, they try to prevent her from approaching the great Rabbi Akiva. However when he sees her, he immediately stops them, saying: Sheli v'shelachem shelah hu All that I have and that you have, we owe to her! Kalba Savua; who banished his son-in-law because he considered him to be an ignoramous, bows to the ground, his face pressing the earth, kisses Rabbi Akiva's feet, and gives him half of his wealth. Rabbi Akiva then fulfills his promise to Rachel, and has a splendid "Jerusalem of Gold" tiara made and he presents it to her. Whereupon the wife of the eminent Rabban Gamliel, envious of the magnificent gift, asks her husband why he does not get for her a similar tiara. Rabban Gamliel says that had she done for him what Rachel did for R. Akiva, he too would have given his wife a Jerusalem of Gold tiara: "Did you do for me what Rachel did for her husband? Did you sell your hair to buy food so that I could study Torah?" (JT Shabbat 1:6, JT Sotah 9:15, BT Shabbat 34a)Who is wealthy? Asks Rabbi Akiva. A man who has a wife who is comely in her deeds.