We live in a world of symbols. They can be words images or things but symbols help us navigate the world and understand what we are seeing. One of the best-known symbols is the crown. Whether the crown is placed atop a sefer Torah or l’havdil on the head of a non-Jewish monarch when we see it we know that we are in the presence of either royalty or authority or both. It’s not surprising then that royal crowns are usually made from the most precious materials that a ruler can acquire. But despite their great value or perhaps because of it crowns have had a habit of being lost or stolen — and the lore surrounding them can be as intriguing as the plot of a modern-day thriller.

To read the rest of this story please buy this issue of Mishpacha or sign up for a weekly subscription