The Presentation at the Synagogue (Das Schultragen)

It was custom specific to German Jews to donate a Torah binder on a boy's first visit to the synagogue. The decorated binder, sewn from strips of swaddling cloth used at his circumcision, contained the child's name, date of birth, and the wish that he grow up to study the torah, get married, and perform good deeds.

In this scene, attention falls on the adoring father and his curious son, who reaches out to grasp the precious Torah finials. The child's mother, standing up to get a better look, eagerly watches the ceremony from behind the lattice in the women's gallery upstairs. Although most of the congregation focuses on the event, Oppenheim adds some local color--in this case, two men engaged in a private chat.