SYMBOLS

The "Eternal Flame" was thus revered and became synonymous with God. The "Eternal Light" is perhaps the most favorite of memorial symbols and is used by all faiths.

THE "KOEN" HANDS
(sometimes spelled"KOHEN") It is common practice to place this carving on a Jewish monument, if the deceased was descendent of the ancient Hebrew priesthood known as "KOEN". There are other spellings derived from this name such as "COHEN", "COHN", "COHAN", "COWEN", and "CAHN", to name only a few.

The symbol of the "KOEN" is the two palms, fore-finger and thumb tips touchlug, fingers spread apart in groups of two. This apparently was a gesture of supplication to God or the Holy Scriptures during prayer.

THE "LEVI" SYMBOL
Next to the "KOEN" symbol, the sign of descendents of the tribe of Levites is most honored. In ancient times, they and the Koens were the two ruling classes of the temple and the Jewish religion. They served the Koens in the administration of the temple. Because of their high position, it was they who were entrusted with the task of keeping the "eternal light" and candleabra filled with oil. Thus, the vessel of oil,with it's spout to fill the lamps, became associated with the tribe of Levites.

During the Middle Ages and in recent years in the ghettos of Europe, it became a function and honor of the Levi to cleanse the hands of those who visited the cemetery, hence the vessel filled with water and a bowl.

PLACING OF PEBBLES
The custom of placing a pebble on a headstone during a visit to the cemetery is as old as man's first efforts to mark the site of burial with a heap of stones; first so the remains would be honored by the living, and not desecrated with purposeful or accidental excavation and secondly to discourage disturbance by wild beasts.

It became a mark of respect and consideration to place a rock on an existing mound of boulders. As times changed through the centuries, upright tablets and grave covering ledgers -took the place of piles of rocks. but the custom prevailed. A numerous. collection of pebbles was a sign of many visitations to a grave, indicating esteem and regard for the deceased.

UNVEILING
The significance of an unveiling cloth over a monument is of recent origin. During the early years, when monuments were a pile of rocks, or a crude tablet of soft stone, the erection of a memorial was done in a village cemetery by the nearest kin to the deceased.

As the creation of memorials became a specialized trade, the tribute of a memorial became an event to be viewed simultaneously by family and friends.

The covered monument, until the dedication enhanced the importance of its exposure to everyone. The exposure of a finished memorial before it is unveiled and viewed by the family diminishes the feeling of pride and satisfaction for them. The family created the eulogy and helped with the design of the memorial and deserves the right of exclusivity and privacy to view the monument first.