A common symbol in both Judaism and Rastafarianism is the star of David. Another theme both Jews and Rastas share is their history of suffering, slavery and searching for the promise land.
When Bob Marley sang, "Exodus, movement of Jah People" he was simultaneously memorializing the Israelites' journey out of Egyptian bondage and making an emotional plea for repatriating the sufferers of slavery. In that one song, a Chai pendant-wearing Marley was making the case for Zionism for both peoples. Back-to-Africa advocate Marcus Garvey told blacks to seek Zion in Ethiopia after he interpreted Psalm 68 ("Princes shall come out of Egypt, and Cush shall stretch forth his hand to God") to mean it was there, not Israel, where the Israelites settled post-Exodus.(Siwek).
Although Judaism is the closest-linked religion to Rastafarianism, people of any religion can relate to Bob’s lyrics.
As a hybrid form of music and religion, Reggae Rasta developed the power to awaken a spiritual awareness in people who would not admit to being spiritually inclined. It awakened a longdormant human urge to look over the horizon for One who is greater. I have the feeling that we are going to be seeing Rasta symbols reappearing in popular culture for a long time, because Rasta has an immense transformative power, a power not susceptible to reason, but a power that is capable of being perpetually reinvented (Stephens).
“Going home to Holy Mount Zion” could symbolize going to heaven for Christians for example. The belief in a unifying energy- be it Christ, Allah, Yaweh, God, Jah or the Earth is the key element of spirituality. One does not need to believe in a single diety to be spiritual, but simply have the desire to do something for the greater good. This is the central idea behind Bob’s “One Love” gospel. Marley had a unique ability to preach in a way that was exciting, entertaining, enlightening and great for dancing. He reached millions by formatting religion into an amusing, exhilarating art.
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