Showing posts with label jewish symbol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jewish symbol. Show all posts

Friday, December 4, 2009

Kabbalistic Tree of Life

The Kabbalistic Tree of Life is an arrangement of ten interconnected spheres, which represent the central organizational system of the Jewish Kabbalistic tradition.esoteric mysticism. It first appeared four thousand years ago, in the Book of Creation. It was written that the tree represents a synthesis of the creation.
It is the central motif and has it's origin in the Jewish Kabbalah philosophy, the study of Hebrew
The Tree of Life contains ten Spheres drawn as circles, and twenty paths connecting the spheres and drawn as lines, bringing a total of thirty three paths of wisdom.
The structure is made of three lines: The right side - the masculine side, forms the column of Wisdom. The left side - the feminine side forms the column of Consciousness. The central line - symbolizes the neutral force which unites and balances the two sides.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Hamsa Hand

The word “hamsa” or “hamesh” means five. There are five digits on the hamsa hand, but the number five has additional symbolic meaning in the Jewish and Islamic traditions. Five or Hamesh in hebrew represents the five books of the Torah for Jews. It also symbolizes the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, "Heh", which represents one of God’s holy names.
Hamsa hand is also known as the hand of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron.
The Hamsa Hand itself has been used for centuries as a symbol of protection against evil and is known in Jewish lore as the “Hand of Miriam”.
Of ancient Middle Eastern origin, the Hamsa represents G-d's protective hand.
For centuries the Hamsa has been used as a symbol of Good luck. The Hamsa's positive energy draws happiness, riches and health.
Many believers place the Hamsa hand in their homes and at their work place to ward off the "evil eye".

Mezuzah

A mezuzah (Hebrew: doorpost) are religious texts (often contained in a decorative case) from Deuteronomy inscribed on parchment and rolled up in a case that is attached to the doorframe of many Jewish households in accordance with Jewish law. It is inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah. These verses comprise the Jewish prayer "Shema Yisrael", beginning with the phrase: "Listen, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One."

The mezuzah is not, as some suppose, a good-luck charm, nor does it have any connection with the lamb's blood placed on the doorposts in Egypt. Rather, it is a constant reminder of G-d's presence and G-d's mitzvot.
The scroll must be handwritten in a special style of writing and must be placed in the case to fulfill the mitzvah.

Menorah

A Menorah is a candelabrum that has meaning in Jewish history and ritual. There is a seven branched Menorah and a special nine branched Hanukkah Menorah, which is also called a Chanukiah. A candelabrum with seven branches used in ceremonies to symbolize the seven days of creation
The lamp stand in today's synagogues, called the ner tamid (translated as the eternal flame), symbolizes the menorah. Many synagogues also have an ornamental menorah, usually with some critical detail changed (for example, with only 6 candles) to avoid the sin of reproducing objects of the Temple.
The Menorah has served as a uniquely Jewish symbol from antiquity to contemporary times. The Menorah can be found on ancient coins, gravestones, synagogue decorations. Today the Menorah serves as the seal and emblem of the Jewish State of Israel.