By the Waters of Babylon

The theme of the perforated paper embroidery is announced by the quotation at top: By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea we wept when we remembered Zion (Ps. 137:1). Verse 2 of Psalm 137 describes how the Jews hung their musical instruments on the willows as a sign of mourning for Zion (shown above the seated figures). Zion is depicted in the left third off the field. The Temple Mount labeled "the site of the Temple." A strong sense of patterning marks the embroidery.