Symbols in Judaism

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asked 6 years ago

Good week,
Where does the line between legitimate symbols and paganism, for example: “Kiddush Levena”?
Kind regards, Benjamin

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מיכי Staff answered 6 years ago

Every symbol is legitimate. The law of the moon is not related to symbols, but at most to giving an independent status to a symbol. (Here too, there is a reservation that it is prohibited when the symbol symbolizes a power that does not actually exist, with the exception of the Maimonides’ method in the book of the law of the moon, which prohibits symbols for God, the Almighty.) Kiddush of a white is not related to symbols at all, and even less to giving a status to a symbol. So I did not understand the question.

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בנימין גורלין replied 6 years ago

In Kiddush of a white stone, there is apparently a turning towards the white stone, in fact this is explicit language, “Just as I dance towards you (and not towards her) and I cannot touch you (and not her)” – To the best of my understanding, the prayer is directed to the Creator of the world, so the turning is not towards the white stone but is only a symbol?

מיכי Staff replied 6 years ago

This is clearly a metaphor and not a symbol. The brick here is not a symbol for God. It is just a literary form of addressing Him.