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Tour of Temple Israel

STOP I - Outdoor Art

A - Ten Commandments (Click on photo below for a larger image)

This sculpture of the Ten Commandments by Bernard Frazier shows the commandments superimposed on twin pillars to symbolize "The Pillar of Cloud by Day and the Pillar of Fire by Night." This concept comes from Exodus, Chapter 13 Verse 21-22:

B - Menorah

The Menorah has been the central symbol of Judaism through the ages. Although many people think of the Star of David as the symbol of Judaism, the star is a more recent symbol. The menorah is the enduring symbol. It has seven branches and is built according to the instructions in the Torah (Numbers 8:2) "When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick."

This menorah was designed by Calvin Albert and takes the form of a pedestal with seven unfolding limbs in the form of a Tree of Life (Proverbs 3:17 -- "It is a Tree of Life to them that hold fast to it."). Part of the sculpture shows a circular binding piece symbolizing the universality of God's presence. The menorah is fueled with a specially prepared oil.

C - Mezzuzah

This symbol is a sign of identity that this is a Jewish building. It is called a mezzuzah. We place mezzuzot (plural of mezzuzah) on the door posts according to the instructions in Deuteronomy 6: verses 4-9. Contained within the ornamental casing is a parchment with the text from Deuteronomy. This text forms the basis for two of our most sacred prayers. The Sh'ma and the V'ahavta. The first part of the passage in the mezzuzah is the Sh'ma:

"Hear O Israel, Adonai is our God,
Adonai is One."

It continues with the V'ahavta which instructs Jews in the proper way to remember these words and practice their teaching.Many mezzuzot are very beautiful. Some are hand carved, some are silver, some bronze, some ceramic. Often the Hebrew letter Shin is on the surface. This stands for Shaddai, one of the oldest names of God. The parchment inside always has the same text. Later on, when we enter the sanctuary, note the mezzuzah on the doorpost.

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Temple Israel · 2004 East 22nd Place · Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114