Eternal Life

In the book of Genesis (בראשית), God creates the world and the idyllic Garden of Eden, in which man comes into being. God tells man not to eat fruit from the two trees in the middle of the garden: the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life. God and the angels fear that fruit from the Tree of Knowledge will give man God-like wisdom, and from the Tree of Life will enable him to live forever and transcend time, essentially creating another 'God'. Eve promptly picks and eats the fruit, and gives some to Adam; God gets angry and kicks them out of the Garden into the harsh realities of the real world. The notion of a Tree of Life - a mystical plant capable of bringing immortality and eternal life - has long fascinated Jewish mystics, and is a prominent Kabbalistic idea.

10 Sefirot

Kabbalists talk of 10 'Sefirot' - emanations or attributes - through which God reveals himself to and constantly creates the world. The most common interpretation of these attributes sees them written on disks and arranged in a 'tree' formation, connected by 'branches' or lines. The 10 Sefirot include: Keter (crown - divine intellect), Chochmah (wisdom), Binah (understanding), Chessed (kindness), Gevurah (strength), Tiferet (beauty), Netzach (eternity), Hod (splendour), Yesod (foundation) and Malchut (kingship). Combined, they represent God's 'personality' and the different attributes involved in creation and existence.

Although the concepts behind the Tree of Life are almost inexplicable, the fundamental idea is truly beautiful: eternal life, guided by God's influences in our world. Our selection of Tree of Life jewelry is an exclusive and extraordinary way to gift yourself or someone you love with this deeply meaningful symbol, in a sleek, unique design that will be worn and cherished every day.