Perhaps because I am spending so much of my sabbatical time surrounded by Christian symbols at Virginia Theological Seminary, perhaps because Christmas decorations (although surprisingly enough, none in the library at the seminary) seemed especially pervasive to me this year, I find myself thinking about symbols and what they "symbolize."

The primary symbol of Christianity is the cross, which of course symbolizes Jesus and the crucifixion. A Christian looks at the cross and immediately recognizes what it "symbolizes," a defining moment in Christian history.

Jewish symbols are more complicated. Take, for example, the Star of David, the Jewish symbol most frequently depicted as "symbolizing" Judaism. What does the star "symbolize"? Its origins are ancient, nonIsraelite and stem from regions as diverse as the British isles and Mesopotamia. It becomes tangentially associated with Jews in Prague in the Middle Ages, but does not really emerge as a Jewish symbol until the mid-19th century--and then, scholars agree, the primary motivation behind the wide diffusion of the star was the desire to imitate Christianity! That is to say, the Jews of Europe sought a striking and simple design that would "symbolize" Judaism in the same way that the cross "symbolizes" Christianity. Why the star was chosen is not at all certain. Thus lacking any historical association, the star cannot "symbolize" for Jews as the cross does for Christians.

It is interesting to note that the State of Israel, in its search for Jewish historical continuity, chose as its emblem the menorah, a much older Jewish symbol dating to the ancient Temple. The Star of David was selected for the Israeli flag, perhaps reflecting Theodore Herzl's decision to imprint the star on the cover of his Zionist journal. The Star of David alone was not enough to give the flag a Jewish feeling. The two blue stripes were added to create the look of a tallis. Even with the menorah, certainly a symbol dating to Jewish antiquity, we are not certain what exactly it "symbolizes." We don't really know what it meant to those who looked at it at the ancient Temple. Symbols--and what they "symbolize"--can be very complicated.

My interest in symbols is, I believe, prompted by my interest in both discovering and studying the elements that comprise a strong Jewish identity. Certainly, responding to symbols must be one such element. Hence, I have found myself asking which Jewish symbols speak to me powerfully and emotionally.

First and foremost is the Torah which "symbolizes" everything: learning, antiquity, search, holiness, justice, compassion, connection, generations. We might each ask ourselves what the Torah symbolizes for us.

Next, the Israeli flag is very powerful for me in its representation of life, strength, home, the miracle of survival and our people's return to history. Another Jewish symbol that moves me is lit candles--burning Shabbat candles, burning Hanukkah candles, the ner tamid in our sanctuary and its natural flame all speak to me. Judaism symbolized by a flame reflects so much from the Torah: the light of creation, the burning bush, the pillar of fire that guided the Israelites through the wilderness, the fire atop Mt. Sinai. The flame represents light against darkness, the search for meaning, holiness, and ultimately, God--all that lies at the heart of Judaism. This, perhaps, was the meaning behind the ancient Temple's menorah.

The quivering flame is a beautiful Jewish symbol--it is nearly impossible to define--just as God is impossible to define. We know fire only when we experience it, just as we know God only through experiences of the holy. Traditionally, a flame could be seen as representing Torah learning and the Jewish commitment to education. When we use one flame to light another the first flame is not diminished, but in fact knowledge has increased. So it is when we share our learning with others: knowledge is increased.

Symbols are significant and worth pondering.

Clifford Geertz, the recently deceased and exceedingly brilliant cultural anthropologist, defined religion "symbolically," so to speak:

"A religion is a system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations by men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic." (The Interpretation of Cultures)

We cannot have a meaningful Judaism without strong symbols that move us deeply and create a world view for us--a world view where Torah learning is prized, life is held sacred, creation is revered and close Jewish bonds are critical to our lives. Jewish education should have as a primary aim exposure to Jewish symbols and the creation of vivid, positive memories associated with them. Symbols are symbols only if we can emotionally connect with what they "symbolize." Our Judaism must be in our hearts and minds. Only then will it inform the living of our lives.