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<p><font size="6" face="Times Roman" color="black">JEWISH SYMBOLISM<br>
</font><font size="3" face="Geneva" color="black"><i>Just as there is a Jewish way of life, there is a Jewish way of death.<br>
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<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">Two basic considerations come into play when death strikes and the laws of death and mourning become applicable - the principal of Kevod hamet, treatment of the deceased with reverance and respect; and the principal of Kevod hechai, concern for the welfare of the living. These two principals provide the basis for many of the laws and customs pertaining to death and mourning.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">Jewish law and customs mandate that the feelings of the survivors of a deceased never be ignored. Their anxieties must be eased. It is therefore required that the burial take place promptly - within three days of the death, unless there is a reason for delay.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">In very early times coffins were not used. In Talmudic times though the attitude towards the use of coffins changed; it was regarded as a dishonor to be buried without a coffin. By the Middle Ages there was no accepted rule and a variety of customs prevailed. In the Sixteenth ccntury, the kabbalists considered it better for the dead body to make direct contact with the earth, and coffins were not used. This is common practice in Israel today. However, in Western countries local law generally demands the use of coffins.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">The use of wood, preferably unpolished wood, for the coffin is seen by the Talmud (Moed Katan 27a and Ketubot 8b) as a reminder that ostentatious funerals were frowned upon and that Jewish tradition favors modesty and simplicity in it's treatment of the dead.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">The practice of drilling holes in the bottom of a casket is followed by some Jews who feel strongly that this is the best way to fulfill the commandment "Unto dust shalt thou return". (Genesis 3:19) If holes are drilled they contend, the body will decompose much sooner.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">There is a strong tradition, shared by many, which states that when the Messiah appears there will be a resurrection of the dead, and that those who lived a pious life will roll underground (gilgul neshamot) to the Holy Land to be resurrected (techiyat hamaytim). In preparation for that trip, earth from Israel is sometimes placed in or around the coffin. The earth from the Holy Land is considered to possess atoning power (Ketubot IIIa).</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">The hope that the Messianic Age will come soon is the reason why the phrase "May the Lord comfort you with all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem" is mentioned as a greeting to mourners at the end of the funeral service.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">The Kaddish (mourner's prayer) is recited during synagogue services and for a year after a death as an expression of faith on the part of the mourner.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">The belief that the memory of the deceased will always be present, as during the recital of the Kaddish, is enhanced with the erection of a monument (matzayva).</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">Most Jewish monuments are erected about a year after burial. The origin of this custom has its roots in several sources. Survivors of a death in the family may not be emotionally able to handle the stress of visiting a burial site. After twelve months, grief has had time to subside and the family may be better able to deal with a graveside visit.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">Jewish monuments sometimes bear the name of the deceased in Hebrew followed by the father's name, also in Hebrew, while the mother's name is omitted. In biblical times, surnames did not exist and men were kown, for example, as "Isaac, the Son of Abraham". No mention was made of Sarah, the Wife of Abraham.</font></p>
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<p><font size="4" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>SYMBOLS</b><br>
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<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">Symbols are known to every ethnic group, culture and religion. Symbols are a very important part of memorialization. There are many symbols that represent Judaism and are suitable for use on Jewish memorials. The following symbols are most appropriate and meaningful. They have been used for centuries in Jewish cemeteries around the world.</font></p>
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<p><font size="4" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>THE MENORAH</b><br>
<img height="73" width="61" src="../Images/menorah.gif" align="right"></font><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">Menorah is the Hebrew word for the seven-branch candleabra used in synagogues and other places of worship. The seven-branch Menorah represented the seven days of the week. Seven is also a holy number. At the time of the wanderings, the seven-branch Menorah was carried to illuminate the prayers at the shrine containing the Ten Commandments.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">In the second temple, rebuilt on the site of Solomon's Temple, it is said there was a solid gold seven-branch Menorah of great proportion. When the invading Romans sacked the city of Jerusalem and destroyed the temple, they removed this candleabra and took it to Rome with other treasured vestments of the temple. A stone carving depicting this candleabra and the temple treasures being taken away, is on display in many museums. The original carving is in Rome.</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>THE STAR OF DAVID</b><br>
<img height="74" width="63" src="../Images/star.gif" align="left"></font><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">(Shield of David) It is said that King David's soldiers had this symbols hammered into the fronts of their bronze shield when they went into battle. The origin of the Star of David is very ancient. Old civilizations; Chinese, Egyptian, Hindu and South American Incas considered the triangle a magic symbol. To some it represented fire; to others, water. Combining these two seemed to be the requisites of life, so the two entwined triangles forming the six pointed star was developed.<br>
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<p><font size="4" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>THE TORAH</b><br>
</font><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">This is the symbol of "law". It means "Teaching" or "law" in Hebrew. The Torah is always written by hand on parchment. The sheets of parchment are attached end to end and fastened to two wooden rollers. The rollers are called the "Trees of Life".</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">The Torah contains the five books of Moses, namely: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Torah is usually carved on a monument covered with a "mantle" embroidered with a Star of David. The actual mantle is usually made of white silk fringed with gold.</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>THE TEN COMMANDMENTS</b><br>
<img height="75" width="68" src="../Images/ten.gif" align="right"></font><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">Represented by two hewn tablets of stone with the Hebrew numbers from one to ten engraved vertically, five to each tabIet, this is among the most popular of Jewish monument symbols. The Hebrew numbers one through ten, represent the first ten letters of the Hebrew alphabet.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">In the synagogue, the Ten Commandmeats are usually shown in full carved relief in wood above the cabinet that holds the Torah, with the rearing Lions of Judah on each side. The lions represent strength, bravery and power. They were favorites among kings to guard treasuress and the holy articles of the court, palace and temple.</font></p>
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<p><font size="4" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>SYMBOLS</b><br>
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<p><font size="4" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>ETERNAL LIGHT</b><br>
<img height="73" width="67" src="../Images/etlight.gif" align="right"></font><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">The Hebrew translation is "Ner Tamid". "Ner" means light and "Tamid" means eternal. Fire has been connected with God's presence from aboriginal times. To the ancients it could be the difference between life and death. It warmed their caves, cooked their meats, repulsed ferocious beasts. It was given in the form of glowing ambers to the departing bride.</font></p>
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<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">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.<br>
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<p><font size="4" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>THE "KOEN" HANDS</b><br>
<img height="82" width="80" src="../Images/hands.gif" align="left"></font><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>(sometimes spelled"KOHEN") </b>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 </font><font size="1" face="Geneva" color="black">"CAHN", </font><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">to name only a few.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">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.</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>THE "LEVI" SYMBOL</b><br>
</font><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">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.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">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.</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>PLACING OF PEBBLES</b><br>
<img height="254" width="154" src="../Images/jstone.gif" align="right"></font><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">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.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">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.</font></p>
<p><font size="4" face="Times Roman" color="black"><b>UNVEILING</b><br>
</font><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">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.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">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.</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="Times Roman" color="black">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.</font></p>
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<p><img height="561" width="187" src="../Images/jeholobg.jpg"> <font size="5">Holocaust Memorial</font></p>
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