Matsevot - Symbols of Jewish cemeteries

Cemeteries or Jewish necropolises are striking in their beauty and modesty. Among such cemeteries in Poland there are many valuable monuments on which old matzewas remind celebrities vacationing here. Each matzeva or tombstone is a collection of valuable information about a particular person and his life. But how do you read the characters on it?

Matsevot and their symbolism

Matsevot are simple vertical tombstones characterized by rich symbolism... In addition to the information written in Hebrew, many images can be seen on such a tombstone. There are no scenes depicting people here, as they are forbidden in Judaism. However, miraculous symbols take their place. Lions, bowls, broken trees, or hands folded in prayer are the most common symbols. What do they mean?

How to read matzevot?

Although the symbolism found in Jewish cemeteries is quite complex, its basic rules can be mastered by anyone. So, what do we most often see when visiting a Jewish cemetery? The descendants of the Levites resemble a jug and a bowl, and folded hands - a symbol of blessing - appear on the graves of priests descended from Aaron. Such symbols represent the position in the commune and the role of the deceased. There are also symbols that speak a lot about the deceased as a person. People known for their charitable work usually place a piggy bank on a tombstone or hand throwing a coin into it. On the graves of rabbis and people who are highly respected in society, you can see the crown, and the Torah - the scribe. A broken tree is often a symbol of sudden or premature death. Women's graves are easy to recognize. Here, candles or candlesticks appear on the matzevo. They remind us of the role of the woman on Saturday, because she was in charge of lighting the candles.

Other symbols often found in Jewish cemeteries include the seven-branched candelabra, symbolizing the Temple of Jerusalem and Judaism. The lion, seen as the calling card of the tribe of Judah, also signifies character traits such as strength and strength. The bird, as a symbol of the soul, also often appears on the matzevo. Sometimes chicks accompany him. This symbol sometimes appears on women's graves, and each chick is a symbol of an orphan child.

Each symbol that appears on the matzevah represents a story of a particular life and emphasizes the role it has played in that community. Occupation, attitude to life, and sometimes the circumstances of death - thanks to the symbols, each of us can discover many aspects of the life of people buried in the Jewish necropolis.