The Tree of Life

In the mythologies, many things were considered sacred. For many peoples the tree symbolizes 'life', with roots that go down to our ancestors and branches that symbolize the generations.

This 'Tree of Life' appears more and more in the art of painting and sculpture, in certain archaeological works and in various other fields.

Because of its size the tree was also an object of prayer. Among many other things it symbolizes immortality. In winter most trees lose their leaves, and in summer they are born again.

In many cultures the tree takes on a divine role, and certain people tie threads or rags to it to have their wishes come true. For some peoples the tree has a cosmic force, that is, it gives you the feeling of uniting with the cosmos, the spiritual universe.

The tree with its branches was the first experience of making fire; the tree served to hold the cocoon that gives silk; it gave us fresh and dried fruit; it served for building houses and boats. So it had a multitude of uses that man drew on for centuries and continues to draw on in our day.

The tree is also symbolized in the Menorah and the Hanukkiah. With its 7 branches it gives light to humanity, and with 9 branches it reminds us of freedom.

'The Tree of Life' serves to help you towards a virtual union with Heaven — the Heaven that also symbolizes 'Gan Eden'.

The tree, with its roots under the earth, its trunk above the earth and its branches reaching towards the sky, symbolizes the past, the present and the future.

In Greek mythology Apollo falls in love with Daphne, a very, very beautiful young girl. Apollo wants to seize her and she flees from him with all her strength. Daphne, seeing there is no way to save herself from Apollo, begs Zeus to save her. Zeus helps Daphne and turns her into a tree. In the same mythology the oak (meşe) is the symbol of the Tree of Life. And Daphne is the tree (defne, the laurel) that gives its leaves to make the crowns of emperors — leaves that are also aromatic and medicinal for certain ills.

In 'Bereshit' we find the 'Tree of Life' standing beside the tree of 'Knowledge of Good and Evil'. These two trees are in 'Gan Eden'. So one can say that this notion of the 'Tree of Life' is in our culture too.

The trees that can be compared with the 'Tree of Life' are those that stay evergreen, the trees that are large and live through winter and summer, such as the cypress (selvi), the pine (çam) or the plane tree (çınar). These trees symbolize eternity, the sacred and the divine.

The importance of eternity is also noted in the names of certain synagogues, such as the synagogue of Ortaköy, called 'Etz ha-Hayim', which means 'Tree of Life'. Man always had this hope of resembling the 'Etz ha-Hayim'.

The 'Tree of Life' symbolizes 'hokhma' (wisdom), serenity and peace. It symbolizes creation and the roots of life. It symbolizes rebirth and the development of man. It symbolizes generosity, offering its fruit, its sap, its wood. Its branches give a feeling of safety and its trunk symbolizes protection. It symbolizes the strength and beauty of Nature. It symbolizes the continuation of Humanity.