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The Tree of Life and The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

Publication at Hussite Theological Faculty |
2012

Abstract

The article is dealing with the problems of the Tree symbolism in Jewish religious tradition. Namely with its general features which Judaism has in common with the other religious systems (but recreate them in the spirit of its own).

These aspects or features are: The Tree as the Symbol of the Eternal Life and The True Reality, The Tree as the Symbol of the Universe or Axis Mundi, The Tree as the Symbol of Theofany or Revelation. In Judaism the Tree symbolism is very frequent and complex [partly due to the Biblical story of Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge (Gn 2:9; 3:1-7 and further) and partly thanks to the subsequent ideas which identified The Torah and Tree of Life (Prov 3:8)].

The Tree symbolism has its very important role in Jewish mystical thought also [for example the idea of Divine potencies (in Hebrew called sefirot ) depicted as Tree of Life].