Flowers of Faith

Judaism

“What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary”
Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a

Flower: Red Poppy

Sacred Symbol: Star of David

Mantra/Prayer: Shema Prayer
Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone!

Flower:

In the Torah, namely the first five books of the Hebrew Bible attributed to Moses, flowers are mentioned in the context of the Tabernacle, which was the principal place of worship during the forty years’ wandering in the Sinai desert, and of the great Temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem. These sacred spaces were adorned with intricate floral motifs and decorations, symbolizing the divine presence and creating a visually awe-inspiring atmosphere. Flowers in these sacred spaces sought to evoke a sense of beauty, reverence, and connection with the divine.
The flower in this painting is a poppy, a universal symbol of remembrance, hope, and resilience. For Jewish people this flower also represents survival. On the Feast of Purim, which commemorates the saving of their community from annihilation at a point of time during Persian rule as well as throughout the centuries, many Jews around the world enjoy poppy seed desserts

Sacred Symbol:

The sacred symbol in the middle of the painting is ‘The Star of David’, a six-pointed star made up of two equilateral triangles superimposed over each other.
It is recognised as the symbol of the chosen people and is named after David, the great king of ancient Israel. In Hebrew it’s known as the ‘Shield of David’ (Magen David). Jews started to use this symbol more prominently during the Middle Ages
The establishment of Israel in 1948 and the use of the Star of David in the Israeli flag has strengthened the association of the Star of David with the Jewish people. It is now the most universally recognisable symbol of Judaism and the Jewish people around the world.

Mantra/Prayer:


The words in Hebrew script surrounding the flower constitute the first verse of an all-important Jewish text known as the Shema: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone!”
This verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism and is traditionally recited twice a day, as part of the morning and evening prayer services.