Is that the Star of David on the Israeli flag?

The Magen David (shield of David, or as it is more commonly known, the Star of David) is the symbol most commonly associated with Judaism today, but it is actually a relatively new Jewish symbol. It is supposed to represent the shape of King David's shield (or perhaps the emblem on it), but there is really no support for that claim in any early rabbinic literature. In fact, the symbol is so rare in early Jewish literature and artwork that art dealers suspect forgery if they find the symbol in early works.

Scholars such as Franz Rosenzweig have attributed deep theological significance to the symbol. For example, some note that the top triangle strives upward, toward G-d, while the lower triangle strives downward, toward the real world. Some note that the intertwining makes the triangles inseparable, like the Jewish people. Some say that the three sides represent the three types of Jews: Kohanim, Levites and Israel. While these theories are theologically interesting, they have little basis in historical fact.

The symbol of intertwined equilateral triangles is a common one in the Middle East and North Africa, and is thought to bring good luck. It appears occasionally in early Jewish artwork, but never as an exclusively Jewish symbol. The nearest thing to an "official" Jewish symbol at the time was the menorah.

In the middle ages, Jews often were required to wear badges to identify themselves as Jews, much as they were in Nazi Germany, but these Jewish badges were not always the familiar Magen David. For example, a fifteenth century painting by Nuno Goncalves features a rabbi wearing a six-pointed badge that looks more or less like an asterisk.

In the 17th century, it became a popular practice to put Magen Davids on the outside of synagogues, to identify them as Jewish houses of worship in much the same way that a cross identified a Christian house of worship; however, I have never seen any explanation of why this symbol was chosen, rather than some other symbol.

The Magen David gained popularity as a symbol of Judaism when it was adopted as the emblem of the Zionist movement in 1897, but the symbol continued to be controversial for many years afterward. When the modern state of Israel was founded, there was much debate over whether this symbol should be used on the flag.

Today, the Magen David is a universally recognized symbol of Jewry. It appears on the flag of the state of Israel, and the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross is known as the Magen David Adom.

And

Through our long and often difficult history, we have come to the realization that our only hope is to place our trust in God. The Magen David (literally "Shield of David") has six-points, which symbolize that God rules over the universe and protects us from all six directions: North, South, East, West, Up and Down. A similar symbolism is found in reading the "Shema." ("Code of Jewish Law" O.C. 61:6)

Thus, King David used this six-pointed symbol to signify that the Almighty shields him in war. (Rabbi Moshe Feinstein - "Igrot Moshe" O.C. 3:15)

A more practical theory is that during the Bar Kochba rebellion (1st century), a new technology was developed for shields, which used the inherent stability of the triangle. Behind the shield were two interlocking triangles, forming a hexagonal pattern of support points. If you've ever seen a Buckminster Fuller geodesic, you know how strong triangle-based designs are!

A cynical suggestion is that it is an appropriate symbol for the internal strife that often afflicts Jewish nation: two triangles pointing in opposite directions!

In Kabbalah, the two triangles represent the dichotomies inherent in man: good vs. evil, spiritual vs. physical, etc. The two triangles may also represent the reciprocal relationship between the Jewish people and God. The triangle pointing up symbolizes our good deeds, which go up to heaven and activate a flow of goodness back down to the world, symbolized by the triangle pointing down.

Another idea is that a cube, which has six sides, receives form and substance from its solid center. This inner core represents the spiritual dimension, surrounded by the six universal directions. So too, we see this pattern in the six-pointed star with it's hexagonal center. By the way, the same idea applies to Shabbat -- the seventh day which gives balance and perspective to the six weekdays.

As for the yellow, presumably this is an invention of the Nazis, who forced Jews to wear yellow stars so that they could be recognized from afar.

So whether it is a blue star waving proudly on a flag, or a yellow star in a concentration camp, the Star of David stands as a reminder that for the Jewish people... in God we trust.

http://judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_o/bl_s...

Hi, when the modern state was forming they needed a flag in a hurry to represent them. They were in a meeting talking about the formation of the modern state, and somebody posed the question, then what will be our flag? Then someone grabbed a cloth quickly and designed a flag with Jewish symbols on it and they displayed it at the meeting. They chose the blue stripes because that is the design and coloring that comes from the male tallit, a prayer shawl. And they further designed it using the Magen David because that has been a Jewish symbol denoting the "shield" of David. It is a flag for a modern country and all modern countries have things on them that show significance to them. I would not go by any other internationalist interpretation of another's modern flag. It's really not their place to determine what another's flag means and they tend to give it negative connotations for their own political or religious reasons, they try to "propagandize" it and give it other that its actual meaning. The people that live under the Israeli national flag are the ones best apt to interpret what the flag means to them and history shows that the intent provided at the time the flag was made meant "prayer shawl, shield of David." This interpretation comes from Israeli historical sources, directly when the flag was being produced for the first time, and they know best their intent on the flag and the meaning it has to Israeli people today. It is a beautiful flag and I think it is perfect for the Jewish and Democratic State of Israel.

The Star of David has absolutely nothing to do with King David. I think I remember reading that it was from the Rothschild's shield -- not sure though. But here's some other interesting notes about the star:

It's a sign of perfection.

3 is considered a perfect number.

A triangle has 3 sides.

The "Star of David" of course has 2 triangles which make a total of 6 sides.

If you look at the pattern, you'll also notice 3 smaller inner triangles that form the points of the star.

6 - sides

6 - inner triangles

6 - points

666 - Is the number of the beast. (Anti-Christ)

Remember some verses from the Book of Revelation, which was written down approximately 90 A.D. (before the Talmud)...

"Those who say they are Jews, but are not. For they are liars and deceivers."

Most people don't realize that most of the "Jews" in Palestine are not Jews at all. They are Russians (of the old Khazar (kingdom). They were originally a people who worshiped phallic symbols until they converted to Judaism.

It comes from the story in the Torah in which David's shield was reinforced by 6 leather straps in two triangles in this pattern, it became a symbol of the Jewish people to remember his victories

jurgen is truthful too, they used it to try to resemble the people they claimed to be ancestors from, the more Jewish and Hebrew related symbols made the European Jews seem connected as community

The founders of the zionist state were hard-core left-wing atheists with nothing but contempt for Judaism or any other religion. The use of a Biblical term for the name of the alleged nation and the use of a religious symbol for the flag was for the sake of garnering support from the most powerful states,all of them protestant Christian,the idea being they would then view this Russian travesty as the reincarnation of the ancient Biblical state,which worked like a charm and still does,frankly. It's just a scam. Even today most "israelis" are Russians and atheists.

As to the history of the Third Reich,it had an excellent relationship with the Jewish Agency,precursor of the current regime. It was based on what was called the transfer Agreement,or Havaara. The J.A. wanted German jews dislocated and hopefully migrate to Palestine,and AH wanted them out of Germany,so they got along great. It was only with great reluctance that the zionists backed the British during WWII,and of course they replaced the Germans as Britain's enemies as soon as the Reich fell.

yes

The origin of the universe in the form of a Star of David hexagonal revolves around the universe at light speed , a Suns black number 8 (6 +1 Mksomaaly 2 on the conical shape of North and South ), the total number of 7 form the black sun cylindrical in Amdan internal extended because of the speed of light when it spins about the universe and the waves carry the darkness and cold Maha then a tremendous ability to penetrate the stars and planets are chilled to the universe otherwise would have exploded stars and which comes cause rotation of the earth and the sun and the rotation of the electron around the nucleus ( that is for sure ) it is also the reason for the stability of the stars as the suns black has no attraction , but the opposite is driving a reason pressure cosmic which is why everything balled universe as a result of external pressure balanced suns black , which led to the expansion of the universe *****************

We conclude :

* Changes in the cosmic pressure is when we get closer to the black hole and we approached it from years and directory eclipsed Palmcherq 2005 Rift in Morocco in 2010 America West

* Cause earthquakes because of the inevitable result of external cosmic swimming ( all floating in an orbit ) to the cosmic cabin pressure on a regular basis from the days of Prophet Noah and not because of internal as geologists believed

* The cause of black holes in galaxies

That the pressure of being the Black Stars and rotation about driving causing swirling cosmic universe ( Ascent ) drawer feed suns black ( fuel is men and stones )

David Solomon of David

Abu Suleiman

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How folded sky Kti record ? ? That the universe takes the form of a ball circular is inside the Star of David surrounded by the Suns six around but if proximity 3 on the right and three on the north consists of our shape of the eye that beguile 3 lines right and the north , such as the eye historic drawn on top of the pyramid and then there the sun divided into two halves cone above and below which hurt the close of the universe its pressure becomes flatter and be oblate then composed and religions in the universe above and below , such as red blood cells , but with a pressure of cosmic -right 3 suns driving North 3-star driving lead to a process of folding on the right and North Vtoy sky Kti record Newspapers

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The vastness of the universe is caused by : (1) move away suns black , a 6 surrounding the universe in the form of a Star of David to the outside because they are suns driving Vtptad from the center of the universe and is moving at light speed inappropriate, nothing is faster than the speed of light , a 3- people in the form of a pyramid upside down and communication with Baz be path ? ? (and you to the normal result ) means when you walk on the Bridge (2) there is a sun black seventh which is divided in half to form a conical located above and below the rave surround cosmic formed our universe is like a diamond , and the two closest to the universe inappropriate, be pressed cosmic output of them stronger , she believes galaxies formed from cosmic rave pressure of compressed like the top and bottom and the resulting nebular belt in a circular motion and thus limit ourselves

originally it is a decorative drawing, used in many places from ancient times. as a Jewish symbol it appears starting some 700 years ago.

why ask here if you can read :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_David

Supposedly it means all the ex-jews occupying Palestine are still religious. In terms of U.S. support it's a real vote-getter. The ancient and holy land of Israel has risen from the grave! Gee whiz!

It is intended to convince Christians that the Russian occupation of Palestine has something to do with the ancient Hebrews.

It is named after King David of ancient Israel; and its earliest known communal usage began in the Middle Ages, many centuries before Hitler. It is not mentioned in the Torah.

One story is that King David, as a young warrior had (as was common then) a leather shield, which was braced with six interlocking sticks -two triangles, which gave the shield it's strength. The two triangles -one pointing up, and the other down were adopted as a star by David's followers.