Jews traditionally commemorate a family member's death by lighting a memorial candle on the anniversary of the death according to the Hebrew calendar. To determine the corresponding date on the Gregorian calendar, Jews consult specially devised calendars or plaques. This plaque was commissioned in memory of Shime, daughter of Solomon David (died December 6, 1915). The plaque's composition derives from Eastern European prototypes such as wooden Torah arks decorated with foliate, bird, and animal forms, topped by a double-headed eagle, symbol of the Holy Roman Empire that was adopted by Austria, Germany, and Russia.

The use of a typewriter for inscriptions on this document is highly unusual. This discreet addition may have been necessary to indicate the date for someone who could not read Hebrew.