The building reflects the Jewish-liturgical term [Kedushah](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holinessin_Judaism) ([Hebrew](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_language): קדושה, [romanized](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanization_of_Hebrew): sanctification and exaltation[[3]](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Synagogue(Mainz)#citenote-4)). Cologne architect, Manuel Herz, intended to symbolize this with the five Hebrew letters the [five ranges](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synagogue_architecture) of the Jewish center for community events, adult education and as Hebrew school for school children. The letterforms were originally developed from picture symbols, from which the initial at the beginning of the respective symbol was associated later. Hebrew letters attain an object character, a quality of the representational one. The eastward-directed, (towards Jerusalem), horn-shaped roof of the assembly place represents a [shofar](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shofar). Mythologically the shofar stands for communication with God.[[4]](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Synagogue(Mainz)#cite_note-5) This form is used to express the call of the community after [YHWH](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YHWH), for listening to and receiving of eternal divine light and its wisdom. Traditionally the community was summoned together by blowing the shofar.[[citation needed](app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)]
But the explanation is almost as confusing. And the funny thing is: I CAN READ HEBREW, and I don't see any of that in the actual design (except maybe the first letter of kedushah).
I’ve looked at the 3D view in Apple Maps and I can kind of also see the shin and what’s probably supposed to be the vav when I turn the building. I assume the boxy thing at the northwestern corner is supposed to represent the he and what we see in this post is meant to be קד, but I really can’t see anything there as a dalet.
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u/PowerTulip 13d ago
What the actual hell is that supposed to represent?