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Glossaries

Term Definition
Memento mori

Memento mori is a Latin phrase traditionally translated as 'remember you will die'.

Synonyms - M.M.
menorah

Jewish symbolism. Symbol for the divine presence. The seven arms represent the seven days of creation. On gravestones, menorahs symbolize the deceased’s deep commitment to Judaism throughout their entire life.

mohel

Jewish symbolism. The mohel performs the ritual of circumcision when the male baby is eight days old and the rite symbolizes inclusion in the covenant that Abraham made with God.

During circumcision, part of the foreskin is removed by the moheel with special tools. The foreskin is fixed with a circumcision clip or ring, the surgery itself is done with a circumcision.

In the past, these instruments, along with a pipette and a cup, were kept in a case or box. In most cases, only the knife with a clamp is depicted, but in some cases there are several attributes on the tombstone of a moheel.

Synonyms - moheel,besnijdenis
mourning figure

Symbol of grief of the relatives. Usually it concerns a grieving woman. Often depicted life-size, leaning over a gravestone mourning. Compare pleurants, which appear on tombs in churches.

Synonyms - pleurants,treurende vrouwfiguur