Star of David

The Star of David is known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David (Hebrew or מגן דוד without nikkud , pronounced [mɔˈɣen dɔˈvið] in Tiberian Hebrew (the dialect of the Masoretic Bible), often transcribed Māḡēn Dāwīḏ by Biblical Hebrew linguists, and pronounced in Modern Hebrew , as well as Mogein Dovid [ˈmɔɡeɪn ˈdɔvid] or Mogen Dovid in Ashkenazi Hebrew and Yiddish ). The Shield of David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism . The Menorah , the candelabra of seven oil lamps from the Temple in Jerusalem, is a more ancient symbol of Jewish identity. From the Diaspora it returned to Israel where it probably originated, where it had been used as a symbol from the second or third century on as a symbol of Jewish identity." Sacha Stern, Jewish Identity in Early Rabbinic Writings , 1994:86. This is why archeology and Rabbinic literature do not necessarily meet. The case of the menora [is] a maybe central, experiential feature of [ancient] Jewish identity."

Star of David The Star of David (✡), known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David ( Hebrew מָגֵן דָּוִד ; Biblical Hebrew Māḡēn Dāwīḏ [maːˈɣeːn daːˈwiːð] , Tiberian [mɔˈɣen dɔˈvið] , Modern Hebrew , Ashkenazi Hebrew and Yiddish Mogein Dovid [ˈmɔɡeɪn ˈdɔvid] or Mogen Dovid ), is a generally recognized symbol of modern Jewish identity and Judaism . Its shape is that of a hexagram , the compound of two equilateral triangles . Unlike the menorah , the Lion of Judah , the shofar and the lulav , the Star of David was never a uniquely Jewish symbol. During the 19th century the symbol began to proliferate amongst the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, ultimately being used amongst the Jewish communities in the Pale of Settlement . A significant motivating factor was the desire to imitate the influence of the Christian cross . The earliest Jewish usage of the symbol was inherited from medieval Arabic literature by Kabbalists for use in talismanic protective amulets ( segulot ) where it was known as a Seal of Solomon . The symbol was also used in Christian churches as a decorative motif many centuries before its first known use in a Jewish synagogue. Prior to the 19th century, official use in Jewish communities was generally known only in the region of today's Czech Republic , Austria and possibly parts of Southern Germany , having begun in medieval Prague . The symbol became representative of the worldwide Zionist community, and later the broader Jewish community, after it was chosen as the central symbol on a flag at the First Zionist Congress in 1897. The identification of the term "Star of David" or "Shield of David" with the hexagram shape dates to the 17th century. The term "Shield of David" is also used in the Siddur (Jewish prayer book) as a title of the God of Israel . Judaism A-Z Yacov Newman, Gavriel Sivan The Flag and the Emblem, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs , quote "Unlike the menora (candelabrum), the Lion of Judah, the shofar (ram's horn) and the lulav (palm frond), the Star of David was never a uniquely Jewish symbol." The Flag and the Emblem, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs , quote "According to Sholem, the motive for the widespread use of the Star of David was a wish to imitate Christianity. During the Emancipation, Jews needed a symbol of Judaism parallel to the cross, the universal symbol of Christianity." Leonora Leet , "The Hexagram and Hebraic Sacred Science" in : The Secret Doctrine of the Kabbalah , 1999, 212-217 . There is very little doubt that terms like these first became popular among the Arabs, who showed a tremendous interest in all the occult sciences, arranging and ordering them systematically long before the Practical Cabalists thought of doing so. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that for a long time both the five-pointed and the six-pointed stars were called by one name, the "Seal of Solomon," and that no distinction was made between them. This name is obviously related to the Jewish legend of Solomon's dominion over the spirits, and of his ring with the Ineffable Name engraved on it. These legends expanded and proliferated in a marked fashion during the Middle Ages, among Jews and Arabs alike, but the name, "Seal of Solomon," apparently originated with the Arabs. This term they did not apply to any one design exclusively; they applied it to an entire series of seven seals to which they attributed extreme potency in putting to flight the forces of the Demon." Scholem 1949 :"It is not to be found at all in medieval synagogues or on medieval ceremonial objects, although it has been found in quite a number of medieval Christian churches again, not as a Christian symbol but only as a decorative motif. The appearance of the symbol in Christian churches long before its appearance in our synagogues should warn the overzealous interpreters. In 1655 it is found on the seal of the Viennese community, and in 1690 on the seal of the community of Kremsier , in Moravia. On the wall of the old synagogue of the community of Budweis (Southern Bohemia), which was abandoned by the Jews in 1641, there are representations of Shields of David alternating with roses; apparently this is the oldest synagogue outside of Prague on which this symbol is to be found. In his youth, R. Jonathan Eybeschuetz might have been able to see it on the seal of the community of EybeSchuetz. A number of communities in Moravia used as a seal the Shield of David alone, with the addition of the name of the community. Others had on their seals a lion holding the Shield of David, like the community of Weiskirchen at the beginning of the 18th century. In very isolated instances the figure of the Shield of David was used in southern Germany also, doubtless under the influence of the Prague community. In other countries, we do not generally find the Shield of David in use before the beginning of the 19th century, either on community seals, or on the curtains of the Ark, or on Torah mantles." The Flag and the Emblem, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs , quote "The Star of David became the emblem of Zionist Jews everywhere. When they chose it as a symbol for Zionism at the Basle Congress of 1897, the Shield of David was possessed of two virtues that met the requirements of men in quest of a symbol: on the one hand, its wide diffusion during the previous century-its appearance on every new synagogue, on the stationery of many charitable organizations, etc.-had made it known to everybody; and on the other, it was not explicitly identified with a religious association in the consciousness of their contemporaries. The symbol did not arouse memories of the past: it could be filled with hope for the future."

Jewish cultural and religious symbol This article is about the use of the hexagram as a Jewish symbol. Star of David The Star of David (✡), known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David ( Hebrew מָגֵן דָּוִד ; Biblical Hebrew Māḡēn Dāwīḏ [maːˈɣeːn daːˈwiːð] , Tiberian [mɔˈɣen dɔˈvið] , Modern Hebrew , Ashkenazi Hebrew and Yiddish Mogein Dovid [ˈmɔɡeɪn ˈdɔvid] or Mogen Dovid ), is a generally recognized symbol of modern Jewish identity and Judaism . Its shape is that of a hexagram , the compound of two equilateral triangles . The identification of the term "Star of David" or "Shield of David" with the hexagram shape dates to the 17th century. The term "Shield of David" is also used in the Siddur (Jewish prayer book) as a title of the God of Israel . Unlike the menorah , the Lion of Judah , the shofar and the lulav , the Star of David was never a uniquely Jewish symbol. The hexagram , being an inherently simple geometric construction, has been used in various motifs throughout human history, which were not exclusively religious. The symbol was also used in Christian churches as a decorative motif many centuries before its first known use in a Jewish synagogue. The earliest Jewish usage of the symbol was inherited from medieval Arabic literature by Kabbalists for use in talismanic protective amulets ( segulot ) where it was known as the Seal of Solomon among Muslims. Before the 19th century, official use in Jewish communities was generally known only in the region of today's Czech Republic , Austria and possibly parts of Southern Germany , having begun in medieval Prague . During the 19th century the symbol began to proliferate among the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe , ultimately being used among the Jewish communities in the Pale of Settlement . A significant motivating factor, according to scholar Gershom Scholem, was the desire to represent Jewish religion or identity in the same manner the Christian cross identified that religion's believers. The symbol became representative of the worldwide Zionist community after it was chosen as the central symbol on a flag at the First Zionist Congress in 1897, due to its usage in some Jewish communities and its lack of specifically religious connotations. The appearance of the symbol in Christian churches long before its appearance in our synagogues should warn the overzealous interpreters. There is very little doubt that terms like these first became popular among the Arabs, who showed a tremendous interest in all the occult sciences, arranging and ordering them systematically long before the Practical Cabalists thought of doing so. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that for a long time both the five-pointed and the six-pointed stars were called by one name, the "Seal of Solomon," and that no distinction was made between them. This name is obviously related to the Jewish legend of Solomon's dominion over the spirits, and of his ring with the Ineffable Name engraved on it. These legends expanded and proliferated in a marked fashion during the Middle Ages, among Jews and Arabs alike, but the name, "Seal of Solomon," apparently originated with the Arabs. In 1655 it is found on the seal of the Viennese community, and in 1690 on the seal of the community of Kremsier , in Moravia. On the wall of the old synagogue of the community of Budweis (Southern Bohemia), which was abandoned by the Jews in 1641, there are representations of Shields of David alternating with roses; apparently this is the oldest synagogue outside of Prague on which this symbol is to be found. In his youth, R. Jonathan Eybeschuetz might have been able to see it on the seal of the community of EybeSchuetz. A number of communities in Moravia used as a seal the Shield of David alone, with the addition of the name of the community. Others had on their seals a lion holding the Shield of David, like the community of Weiskirchen at the beginning of the 18th century. In very isolated instances the figure of the Shield of David was used in southern Germany also, doubtless under the influence of the Prague community. In other countries, we do not generally find the Shield of David in use before the beginning of the 19th century, either on community seals, or on the curtains of the Ark, or on Torah mantles." "The Flag and the Emblem" , Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "According to Scholem, the motive for the widespread use of the Star of David was a wish to imitate Christianity. During the Emancipation, Jews needed a symbol of Judaism parallel to the cross, the universal symbol of Christianity." "The Flag and the Emblem" , Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quote "The Star of David became the emblem of Zionist Jews everywhere. When they chose it as a symbol for Zionism at the Basle Congress of 1897, the Shield of David was possessed of two virtues that met the requirements of men in quest of a symbol: on the one hand, its wide diffusion during the previous century—its appearance on every new synagogue, on the stationery of many charitable organizations, etc.—had made it known to everybody; and on the other, it was not explicitly identified with a religious association in the consciousness of their contemporaries. The symbol did not arouse memories of the past: it could be filled with hope for the future."

Jewish cultural and religious symbol This article is about the hexagram as a Jewish symbol. The Star of David as depicted on the flag of Israel . The Star of David ( ) is a generally recognized symbol of both Jewish identity and Judaism . Its shape is that of a hexagram : the compound of two equilateral triangles . A derivation of the seal of Solomon , which was used for decorative and mystical purposes by Muslims and Kabbalistic Jews , its adoption as a distinctive symbol for the Jewish people and their religion dates back to 17th-century Prague . In the 19th century, the symbol began to be widely used among the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe , ultimately coming to be used to represent Jewish identity or religious beliefs. It became representative of Zionism after it was chosen as the central symbol for a Jewish national flag at the First Zionist Congress in 1897. By the end of World War I , it had become an internationally accepted symbol for the Jewish people, being used on the gravestones of fallen Jewish soldiers. Today, the star is used as the central symbol on the national flag of the State of Israel . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ). "The Flag and the Emblem" (MFA). "The Flag and the Emblem" (MFA).

Jewish cultural and religious symbol This article is about the hexagram as a Jewish symbol. Tekhelet colored Star of David, as depicted on the flag of Israel . The Star of David featured in the oldest complete copy of the Masoretic text , the Leningrad Codex , dated 1008. The Star of David ( Hebrew : מָגֵן דָּוִד , romanized : Māḡēn Dāvīḏ , [maˈɡen daˈvid] , lit. ' Shield of David ' ) is a symbol generally recognized as representing both Jewish identity and Judaism . Its shape is that of a hexagram : the compound of two equilateral triangles . A derivation of the Seal of Solomon was used for decorative and mystical purposes by Kabbalistic Jews and Muslims . The hexagram appears occasionally in Jewish contexts since antiquity as a decorative motif, such as a stone bearing a hexagram from the arch of the 3rd–4th century Khirbet Shura synagogue. A hexagram found in a religious context can be seen in a manuscript of the Hebrew Bible from 11th-century Cairo. Its association as a distinctive symbol for the Jewish people and their religion dates to 17th-century Prague. In the 19th century, the symbol began to be widely used by the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe , ultimately coming to represent Jewish identity or religious beliefs. It became representative of Zionism after it was chosen as the central symbol for a Jewish national flag at the First Zionist Congress in 1897. By the end of World War I , it was an internationally accepted symbol for the Jewish people, used on the gravestones of fallen Jewish soldiers. Today, the star is the central symbol on the national flag of the State of Israel . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ). "The Flag and the Emblem" (MFA). "The Flag and the Emblem" (MFA).