Crown
A crown stands for power and strength, characteristics of the deceased - the woman as the “crown of the house” wears the “crown of the good name” - and quotes the Bible: “ ... who crowns you with grace and mercy” (Psalm 103:4).
The uniform, unadorned Jewish gravestones of the Middle Ages and early modern period convey the message “In death, all are equal”. Until the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), only the Hebrew or Aramaic script characterized their appearance.
Plain wooden plaques even commemorated the majority of the dead until the 19th century.
During the Baroque and Rococo periods, elaborate decorations such as foliage, columns, ornaments, garlands and “curtain decorations” were added to the macevot.
Traditional religious symbols were also used at first. The menorah (seven-branched candelabrum) and Magen David, for example, refer to the Shabbat, and tablets of the law to a rabbi or scholar. In addition to gravestones with animal symbolism (lions, deer), secular symbols of transience can be found - hourglasses, bent roses, war equipment on the memorial to the fallen.
Margret Löther
Literature: Daxelmüller, Christoph: Der Gute Ort. Jewish cemeteries in Bavaria, Augsburg 2009
A crown stands for power and strength, characteristics of the deceased - the woman as the “crown of the house” wears the “crown of the good name” - and quotes the Bible: “ ... who crowns you with grace and mercy” (Psalm 103:4).
Blessing hands mark the gravestone of a member of the tribe of priests (Kohen). They refer to the Aaronite blessing (Moses 6: 24-27): “The Lord bless you and keep you ...”.
A jug refers to male descendants from the tribe of Levi. The Levites performed the temple service and symbolically washed the hands of the Kohen (priests) before the priestly blessing.
The tombstone of a shofar blower bears a horn. The shofar is an instrument made from the horn of a ram that is only used ritually. For example, on Rosh ha-Shanah, the Jewish New Year.
A knife and medical aids can be found on the matzah of the mohel (circumciser). His responsible task on the 8th day after the birth of a boy symbolizes God's covenant with the people of Israel.
In Jewish and Christian mourning culture, the wreath and ring symbolize the completion of a person's life with death: a circle of life has come full circle. Palm branches are seen as a sign of joy, peace and victory.
In Christian and Jewish sepulchral art, poppy blossoms and capsules symbolize eternal sleep after death.
The tree trunk and anchor combine to form a complex statement: just as under the conspicuous broken pillars, a person who died before adulthood rests under the tree trunk. His memory remains anchored in the memory of his loved ones.