Jewish Angels

[Judith B. Kerman]

Hello Bridges friends -

Once again I look to y'all for Judaic information - hope you can help!

I've accepted a commission to create a painted silk tallit (something I
occasionally do), and the buyer would like symbols or names of the angels
Gabriel, Raphael, Michael and Uriel in the 4 corners. Does anyone know
whether they had symbolic representations in the Jewish tradition (I think
maybe Gabriel's was the serpent...)? Also, can anyone by some awkward
e-mail method give me the Hebrew spellings? They're not in the Torah and
I have no other books in Hebrew except my dictionaries and language
textbooks, which are no help in this matter. Most of the information I
have found so far is impossibly "new age" - I'd really like Jewish takes
on this. And the Hebrew names would certainly suffice if there are no
dependable sources for symbols.

Thanks!

L'shalom,
Judy Kerman
Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan
heterodox Jewish Buddhist Quaker feminist clown
in ferocious and loving pursuit
of the Cheshire Cat called "Truth"
http://www.svsu.edu/~kerman

------- End of Forwarded Message

[Elaine Reuben]

On Thu, 22 Aug 1996, Judith B. Kerman wrote:

> ...would like symbols or names of the angels Gabriel, Raphael,
> Michael and Uriel... Does anyone know

> whether they had symbolic representations in the Jewish tradition
> (I think maybe Gabriel's was the serpent...)?

I believe Ellen Frankel did a book for Jewish Publication Society
several years ago on Jewish symbolism that might have some of the
information you are looking for -- if it exists: my sense is that
the various "totems" for the several archangels were Christian
iconographic developments, but I'm not an expert in the field.
(Frankel is Editor there, who might be available to consult...)

There *is* a Jewish prayer that speaks of "Uriel before me, Michael
at my right, Gabriel at my left, and Raphael behind me..." used
before sleep and... which you might be able to play with at least
subliminally for choices of which corners.

>Also, can anyone by some awkward e-mail method give me the Hebrew
>spellings?

>From a very lovely "Jewish Dream Pillow" designed by Rivkah Walton,
(Tiferet Studios 215-438-6108) which uses the angel prayer:

Uriel/Angel of Light aleph vov raish yod aleph lamed
Michael/" of Awe mem yod chof aleph lamed
Gabriel/" of Strength gimel bet raish yod aleph lamed
Raphael/" of Healing raish fey aleph lamed

As they say in halachic circles, on all above best to consult
and confirm with your local rabbi.

elaine

[Miva...@aol.com]

B"H
Dear Judy,
Shalom uvracha! What a lovely project. Spelling the names --

Gavriel = gimel + vet + resh + yud + alef + lamed

Michael = mem + yud + chaf + alef + lamed

Raphael = resh + fey + alef + lamed

Uriel = alef + vav + resh + yud + alef + lamed

is pretty straightforward. But, traditional Jewish symbols are beyond me.

A very good person to ask is Bahira, Shaya Isenberg's wife. She has a great
depth of understanding of the relationship of each of these malachim to the
four cardinal directions and to the qualities they bring into the world. She
did some wonderful stuff with that at Shaya's semicha ceremony. I'd strongly
suggest contacting her.

Hope you are well -- and wish you a wonderful new year.

B'Shalom,

David Mivasair in Vancouver