AN EXCEPTIONAL CHEVRAH KADISCHA SILVER TORAH SHIELD AND MATCHING FINIALS. Vienna, 1840. The finials, each 15” tall, are hand chased. The upper portion delicately cut with dainty lattice work. Each topped by crown and acorn finial. The breast plate, 15” tall, is decorated with hand chased flowers, leaves and scrolling border. Further decorate4d with two Solomonic pillars, each topped with an outwardly facing lion flanking a large, hand chased curtain, from which are attached bells. The center cartouche inscribed in Hebrew: DONATED IN HONOR OF HAMAKOM (G-D), IN HONOR OF THE MIKDASH ME-AT (SMALL TEMPLE) IN HONOR OF OUR HOLY TORAH BY THE HANDS OF THE GABBAYIM OF THE GEMILAT CHASIDIM: (IN THE YEAR) DONATED BY THE CHEVRAH KADISCHA GEMILAT CHASADIM OF HALITCH (HALICZ)” The town of Halicz was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the province of Galicia in the district of Stanislawow. After World War I, it became part of Poland and after World War II it came under the rule of the Soviet Union. Today, it is part of the Ukraine. Jewish presence in Halicz dates from 1506. By 1765, there were 258 documented Jews. The community was destroyed in 1942 and the Jews were deported to Stanislawow and Belzec.