Grigorescu, Felicia: Forme de artă în cimitire evreieşti din nord-vestul Romaniei (Satu Mare, 2013)
Glosar de termeni
The representations of the palm tree are limited to only two characteristic elements: a tall and even trunk, without ramifications and with leaves like long branches, which start from a common spot, in the upper side of the trunk. {Pic. 74) In the symbolism of the Judaic art, the tree appears either whole, or is alluded to through single elements such as the pinnate leaves or its fruit. This motif is also frequently to be found on ritual vessels. In Egypt, the motif of the palm tree is so frequent that some specialists consider it the symbol of the Jewish Egyptians . The vine. Both through its frequent mentioning in the biblical text, but, we believe, also due to its shape, through its leaves, fruit, the vine is found in all its forms in the Judaic art. The usage of this symbol is very old and what is very important is the fact that the ornament is a symbol of Judaism: “it was found above the gates of the temple; it was a grandiose gold vine. ...The vine appears also on coins in the time of Antigonus Mattathias as symbol of Israel as an independent nation, and on the coins of the second rising as a symbol of liberty and salvation1 '7. The vine also appears as a praise of the country’s richness: ...They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the 138scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon The Biblical text shows the vine as a symbol of fertility: Thy wife [shall be] 1TQ as a fruitful vine by the sides of thy house . And despite all the sins it causes, the vine’s fruit is the wine... which cheers both God and men 40 The cemetery is a place where the motif of the vine also appears. In North- West Romania, it is, however, a lot less present, due to the type of ornamentation used, in contrast to the areas where all types of symbols abound on the stone, as those from Siret, for instance136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144. More frequently, it can be identified in the Neologic Cemetery from Oradea, both by its split leaf and by its fruit {Pic. 71). The olive tree. By the way this tree is presented in the biblical text, one can say that through its presence it defines the political entity of Jerusalem: You shall have olive trees throughout all your borders'42. This passage can also be interpreted as a testament for a Jew, because it tells that the country is his. The olive tree is referred to also in connection with the great biblical events, as the Great Flood, for instance: And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leafpluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth'42. Another hypostasis in which it appears is connected to the religious ritual: Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man44. 136 Hana Taragan, Cairo..., p. 35 137 Daniel Spelber, Menorah..., p. 141 138 The Bible, Hosea 14: 7 139 Ibidem, Psalms 128: 3 140 Ibidem, Judges 9: 13 141 Silviu Sanie, Dăinuire..., p. 270 142 The Bible, Deuteronomy, 28: 40 143 Ibidem, Genesis 8: 11 144 Ibidem, Judges 9: 9 136
