JEWISH FUNERARY HERITAGE: MEANINGS, SYMBOLS, AND TRADITIONS
JEWISH FUNERARY HERITAGE: MEANINGS, SYMBOLS, AND TRADITIONS
Author(s): Cristina Has (Antal)Subject(s): Jewish studies, History of Church(es), Theology and Religion, History of Judaism, Sociology of Religion, History of Religion
Published by: Editura Arhipelag XXI
Keywords: Jewish cemeteries; funerary heritage; epitaphs; symbolism; cultural memory
Summary/Abstract: This study examines the Jewish funerary heritage as a complex cultural, religious, and historical repository that preserves the memory and identity of Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe. Focusing on the cemeteries of Sălaj County, the paper analyses epitaphs, symbolic motifs, and funerary traditions as primary sources for understanding communal organization, socio‑religious structures, and linguistic evolution. The research highlights the interdisciplinary value of funerary sites, which function simultaneously as spiritual spaces, historical archives, and vulnerable cultural landscapes requiring preservation. Through the analysis of acronyms, iconography, and regional typologies, the study emphasizes the continuity of Jewish sacred language and artistic symbolism, as well as the effects of historical ruptures such as the Holocaust. Ultimately, it argues for the necessity of safeguarding Jewish cemeteries as essential components of European cultural memory and educational heritage.
Journal: Journal of Romanian Literary Studies
- Issue Year: 2025
- Issue No: 43
- Page Range: 922-928
- Page Count: 7
- Language: Romanian
