1. Judaism
Language, Symbol, and Ritual

2. Key Terms
• Worldview: A way of seeing and performing
reality
• Language: A system of communication using
symbols
• Symbol: Something that represents something
else (Letters and words are symbols)
• Ritual: Repetitive practices associated with the
preservation of a particular worldview

3. Language and Image
• Because the Jewish tradition places so much
emphasis on spoken and written language, many
Jewish people are very cautious about speaking or
writing the name of God outside of a religious
context.
• This concern also extends to images. Many
people interpret the second commandment (which
is against making images or objects and then
worshiping them) as a prohibition against making
images of God. Why do you think this is?

4. Shin
• The first letter in Shaddai, a name for God in
Hebrew.

5. Shield of David

6. The Shema
• First two words of the Jewish morning and
evening prayers are Shema Yisrael
• “Hear, O Israel”
• “The Lord is our God, the Lord is one”
(Deuteronomy 6.4)
• What does this tell us about this religion

7. Mezuzah
• “Doorpost”

8. The Tabernacle (Exterior)

9. The Tabernacle (Interior)

12. The Ark of the Covenant

13. Temple Menorah

14. Hanukkah Menorah