Shiviti

Shiviti with Hebrew text in the form of a menorah A reconstruction of the menorah of the Temple created by the Temple Institute . The Hebrew text of the Shiviti follows the form of such a menorah. Shiviti (שויתי in Hebrew , also: Shivisi , in the Ashkenazic pronunciation) are meditative representations of a candlestick used in some Jewish communities for contemplation over God's name. They are usually placed over the amud - the podium from which the prayer service is led by the hazzan . A decorated parochet or mizrach tapestry, or a special illustrated page in the siddur with similar imagery may also serve the same function. The Shiviti displays the Divine Name of God (the Tetragrammaton ) followed by a representation of the Temple seven-branched candlelabrum , or more accurately, lamp-stand (since oil rather than wax was used) as described in Exodus 25:31 . Shiviti is the first word in the Hebrew text of Psalms 16:8 meaning “I have placed” and the next word is the Tetragrammaton aforementioned, which is writ large. The complete verse means “I have placed the Lord always before me”, and is written at the top. This item is meant to enable the worshipper, while praying, to assume an appropriate posture and frame of mind, not unlike the Eastern mandala tradition. The Kabbalists observed that Psalms 67 has a sentence structure such that it may be said to figuratively represent a lamp-stand. The first verse is the title, and it stretches across the entire stand, marking out the burning lamps. Of the actual text which follows, the fourth, middle verse is the longest, and represents the middle trunk and the long supporting shaft. The first and seventh are the next longest, and represent the long outer branches. The remaining inner branches are of equal word length.

Shiviti with Hebrew text in the form of a menorah A reconstruction of the menorah of the Temple created by the Temple Institute . The Hebrew text of the Shiviti follows the form of such a menorah. Shiviti (שויתי in Hebrew , also: Shivisi , in the Ashkenazic pronunciation) are meditative representations of a candlestick used in some Jewish communities for contemplation over God's name. They are usually placed over the amud - the podium from which the prayer service is led by the hazzan . A decorated parochet or mizrach tapestry, or a special illustrated page in the siddur with similar imagery may also serve the same function. The Shiviti displays the Divine Name of God (the Tetragrammaton ) followed by a representation of the Temple seven-branched candelabrum , or more accurately, lamp-stand (since oil rather than wax was used) as described in Exodus 25:31 . Shiviti is the first word in the Hebrew text of Psalms 16:8 meaning “I have placed” and the next word is the Tetragrammaton aforementioned, which is writ large. The complete verse means “I have placed the Lord always before me”, and is written at the top. This item is meant to enable the worshipper, while praying, to assume an appropriate posture and frame of mind, not unlike the Eastern mandala tradition. The Kabbalists observed that Psalms 67 has a sentence structure such that it may be said to figuratively represent a lamp-stand. The first verse is the title, and it stretches across the entire stand, marking out the burning lamps. Of the actual text which follows, the fourth, middle verse is the longest, and represents the middle trunk and the long supporting shaft. The first and seventh are the next longest, and represent the long outer branches. The remaining inner branches are of equal word length.

Kabbalistic meditation aid Shiviti with Hebrew text in the form of a menorah A shiviti or shivisi ( ) is a meditative representation of a verse from Psalms . It is crowned at the top by the sacred name of God , followed by the rest of the passage set in the shape of the Temple lampstand . It is used in Kabbalah for contemplation of the Tetragrammaton . One type of shiviti is placed at the front of the synagogue, where it may also serve as a type of mizrah ; another popular format, designed for personal use, fits inside a prayerbook. Shivitis originated in the 17th-century Sabbatean movement and were condemned by the mainstream rabbinate, especially by prominent anti-Sabbateans like Jacob Joshua Falk . Even in the nineteenth century, when the Sabbatean movement had died out, most authorities banned the use of shivitis because they were seen as disrespectful to the name of God . Today, shivitis are mostly seen in Hasidic synagogues.

Kabbalistic meditation aid Shiviti with Hebrew text in the form of a menorah A shiviti or shivisi ( Hebrew : שויתי ) is a type of mystical meditation aid. It is crowned at the top by Psalm 16:8, including the sacred name of God in the center, followed by Psalm 67 set in the shape of the Temple lampstand . It is used in Kabbalah for contemplation of the Tetragrammaton . One type of shiviti is placed at the front of the synagogue, where it may also serve as a type of mizrah ; another popular format, designed for personal use, fits inside a prayerbook. Shivitis originated in the 17th-century Sabbatean movement and were condemned by the mainstream rabbinate, especially by prominent anti-Sabbateans like Jacob Joshua Falk . Even in the nineteenth century, when the Sabbatean movement had died out, most authorities banned the use of shivitis because they were seen as disrespectful to the name of God . Today, shivitis are mostly seen in Hasidic synagogues.