Menorah
The Menorah appears as the symbol of Judaism in the century following the fall of the Second Temple.
The loss of the temple meant that the religious life of the Jews were no longer bound to it, so the people turned to heaven and the afterlife; giving rise to the idea that the Sanctuary will only be rebuilt via divine intervention. So, the symbol of the menorah became more prevalent in Jewish media and representations everywhere, as a concept of immortality is tied to the new menorah as it is seen as a symbol of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden.
This conclusion could be drawn from the original menorah in the temple that is lighted exclusively with olive oil, which comes from the olive tree that is believed to never die. The menorah assumed great religious importance because of this, and the belief that the deceased dwell in the heavenly Garden of Eden, and enjoy peace.
The loss of the temple meant that the religious life of the Jews were no longer bound to it, so the people turned to heaven and the afterlife; giving rise to the idea that the Sanctuary will only be rebuilt via divine intervention. So, the symbol of the menorah became more prevalent in Jewish media and representations everywhere, as a concept of immortality is tied to the new menorah as it is seen as a symbol of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden.
This conclusion could be drawn from the original menorah in the temple that is lighted exclusively with olive oil, which comes from the olive tree that is believed to never die. The menorah assumed great religious importance because of this, and the belief that the deceased dwell in the heavenly Garden of Eden, and enjoy peace.