“Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole… everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” (21:8)
It is relatively common, especially in the United States, to find the caduceus, with its two snakes and wings, (mis)used as a symbol of medicine instead of the Rod of Asclepius, with only a single snake. Asclepius was a deity in Greek mythology associated with healing and medicine. While the exact date of its initial appearance is difficult to pinpoint, it is associated with Asclepius, who is mentioned in Homer's Iliad (c. 8th century BCE). Statues of Asclepius holding the rod date back to at least the 4th century BCE.
Whether we adopted it from them or they from us, the message is simple. Spiritual healing begins with perspective. The people don’t look away from pain—they look toward it, elevated. The serpent reminds them of their mistakes and their capacity to heal. We can’t ignore suffering, but we can reframe it. Elevating the symbol of harm can lead to reflection, transformation, and healing. The Talmud teaches, “It wasn’t the serpent that healed, but looking upward—toward heaven and inward toward teshuvah.” (Rosh Hashanah 29a)
Greenburgh Hebrew Center              rabbistein@ghcny.org 515 Broadway Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522    914-693-4260    office@ghcny.org    www.ghcny.org
