Judaism emphasizes language and symbols in its rituals and worldview. Key aspects include only speaking or writing the name of God in religious contexts due to its emphasis on language, avoiding images of God which stems from the second commandment prohibiting idol worship, and important symbols like the Shield of David, the Shema prayer, mezuzahs on doorposts, artifacts from the Tabernacle and Temple like the Ark of the Covenant and menorahs used in rituals.

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