This article focuses on the Star of David as a Jewish symbol. For other uses of this ancient sign, see the article Hexagram.

The Star of David ( pronounced: maw-gān daw-vēd, translit.: Magen David, Ashkenazi Hebrew transliteration: Mogen David, literally: "Shield of David", , translit.: Najmat Dawuud), also known as the Seal of Solomon (Arabic: خاتم سليمان, Khatam Sulayman), is a generally recognized symbol of Judaism and Jewish identity and is also known colloquially as the Jewish Star. Its usage as a sign of Jewish identity began in the Middle Ages. A distinctive symbol of Judaism since ancient times was the menorah.

With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 the Star of David on the flag of Israel has also become a symbol of Israel.

As a Jewish symbol

The number six has religious significance in Judaism, e.g., the six days of Creation, the six working days in the week, and the six orders (i.e., top-level subdivisions) of the Oral Law (see Mishna and Talmud). Exact origins of the symbol's relation to Jewish identity are unknown. Several theories were put forward.

According to one hypothesis, Star of David comprises two of the three letters in the name David. In its Hebrew spelling (דוד), it contains only three characters, two of which are "D" (or "Dalet", in Hebrew). In ancient times, this letter was written in a form much like a triangle, similar to the Greek letter "Delta", with which it shares a sound and the same (4th) position in their respective alphabets, as it does with English. The symbol may have been a simple family crest formed by flipping and juxtaposing the two most prominent letters in the name.

Some researchers have theorized that the hexagram represents the astrological chart at the time of David's birth or anointment as king. The hexagram is also known as the "King's Star" in astrological circles, and was an important astrological symbol in Zoroastrianism.

It is possible that it was the Kabbalah that derived the symbol from the Templars. "Practical" Kabbalah makes use of this sign, arranging the Ten Sephiroth, or spheres, in it, and placing it on amulets. However, the sign is nowhere to be found in classical kabbalistic texts themselves, such as the Zohar, the writings of rabbi Isaac Luria and the like. Therefore, its use as a sefirotic diagram in amulets is more likely a reinterpretation of a preexisting magical symbol. According to G.S. Oegema, "Isaac Luria provided the Shield of David with a further mystical meaning. In his book "Etz Hachayim" he teaches that the elements of the plate for the Seder evening have to be placed in the order of the hexagram: above the three sefirot "Crown. "wisdom" and "Insight", below the other seven". G.S. Oegema, Realms of Judaism. The history of the Shield of David, the birth of a symbol (Peter Lang, Germany, 1996) ISBN 3-631-30192-8 M. Costa wrote that M. Gudemann and other researchers in the 1920s claimed that Isaac Luria influenced the becoming of the Star of David a national Jewish emblem by teaching that the elements of the plate for the Seder evening have to be placed in the order of the hexagram, but Gershom Scholem proved that Isaac Luria talked about parallel triangles one beneath the other and not about the hexagram. Hatakh ha-Zahav, Hotam Shelomoh u-Magen-David (Poalim, 1990, Hebrew) p.156

Kabbalistically, the hexagram symbolizes the six directions of space, the divine union of male and female energy, and the four elements. The two triangles represent the union of the male and female forces of the universe, the male represented by the upper triangle and the female represented by the lower triangle.

A popular folk etymology has it that the Star of David is literally modeled after the shield of the young Israelite warrior David (later to be King David). In order to save metal, the shield was not made of metal but of leather spanned across the simplest metal frame that would hold the round shield: two interlocking triangles. No reliable historical evidence for this etymology exists.

Shield form

The Shield of David is not mentioned in ancient rabbinic literature. Notably, not a single archeological proof exists as yet concerning the use of this symbol in the Land of Israel in ancient times, even after King David. Scientists say that it probably was not a widely recognized symbol in the Israel of the Second Temple era. A supposed David's shield however has recently been noted on a Jewish tombstone at Taranto, in Southern Italy, which may date as early as the third century CE.

Jewish lore links the symbol to the Seal of Solomon, the magical signet ring used by King Solomon to control demons and spirits. Jewish lore also links the symbol to a magic shield supposedly owned by King David that protected him from enemies.

Scholars have said it may be a relict from Ancient Egyptian religious practices, adopted by Jews engaged in the occult and syncretism as early as the era of King Solomon.

The earliest Jewish literary source which mentions it, the Eshkol ha-Kofer of the Karaite Judah Hadassi (middle of the 12th century CE), says, in ch. 242: "Seven names of angels precede the mezuzah: Michael, Gabriel, etc. ... Tetragrammaton protect thee! And likewise the sign called 'David's shield' is placed beside the name of each angel." It was, therefore, at this time a sign on amulets.

A manuscript Tanakh dated 1307 and belonging to Rabbi Yosef bar Yehuda ben Marvas from Toledo, Spain, was decorated with a Shield of David.

In the synagogues, perhaps, it took the place of the mezuzah, and the name "shield of David" may have been given it in virtue of its presumed protective powers. The hexagram may have been employed originally also as an architectural ornament on synagogues, as it is, for example, on the cathedrals of Brandenburg and Stendal, and on the Marktkirche at Hanover. A pentagram in this form is found on the ancient synagogue at Tell Hum.

Shield with stars

In 1354, King of Bohemia Charles IV prescribed for the Jews of Prague a red flag with both David's shield and Solomon's seal, while the red flag with which the Jews met King Matthias of Hungary in the 15th century showed two pentagrams with two golden stars (Schwandtner, Scriptores Rerum Hungaricarum, ii. 148). The pentagram, therefore, may also have been used among the Jews. It occurs in a manuscript as early as the year 1073 (facsimile in M. Friedmann, Seder Eliyahu Rabbah ve-Seder Eliyahu Ztṭa, Vienna, 1901).

In 1460, the Jews of Ofen (Budapest, Hungary) received King Mathios Kuruvenus with a red flag on which were two Shields of David and two stars. In the first Hebrew prayer book, printed in Prague in 1512, a large Shield of David appears on the cover. In the colophon is written: "Each man beneath his flag according to the house of their fathers... and he will merit to bestow a bountiful gift on anyone who grasps the Shield of David." In 1592, Mordechai Maizel was allowed to affix "a flag of King David, similar to that located on the Main Synagogue" to his synagogue in Prague. In 1648, the Jews of Prague were again allowed a flag, in acknowledgment of their part in defending the city against the Swedes. On a red background was a yellow Shield of David, in the centre of which was a Swedish star. The National Flag at MFA

The Star of David can be found on the tombstones of religious Jews going back hundreds of years in Europe, as it became accepted as the universal symbol of the Jewish people. Following Jewish emancipation after the French revolution, Jewish communities chose the Star of David to represent themselves, comparable to the cross used by most Christians.

Some Orthodox Jewish groups reject the use of the hexagram Star of David because of its association with magic and the occult. They do not recognize it as a Jewish symbol. Some Haredi groups, such as Neturei Karta, reject it because of its association with Zionism.

Many Modern Orthodox synagogues, and many synagogues of other Jewish movements, however have the Israeli flag with the Star of David prominently displayed at the front of the synagogues near the Ark containing the Torah scrolls.

Used by the Nazis

A Star of David, often yellow-colored, was used by the Nazis, during the Holocaust, as a method of identifying Jews, as it was seen as the "Jewish Star". The requirement to wear the Star of David with the word Jude (German for Jew) inscribed, was extended to all Jews over the age of 6 in German-occupied areas on September 6, 1941. In other areas, local words were used (e.g. Juif in French, Jood in Dutch). In occupied Poland Jews were forced to wear a white armband with a blue Star of David on it, as well as a patch on the front and back of their clothing.

Jewish inmates in concentration camps were later forced to wear similar Nazi concentration camp badges.

Magen David Adom

Magen David Adom (Red Star of David or, translated literally, Red Shield of David) is Israel's only official emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service, in a fashion similar to the Red Cross and the Red Crescent in other countries.

See also

• Flag of Israel
• Chai symbol

Notes

• There is a plant named Solomon's seal Polygonatum multiflorum in the lily family.
• In Unicode, the "Star of David" symbol is U+2721 ().
• Some maintain that the "Star of David" is actually the letter "Dalet" (corresponding to Greek "Delta") from the Phoenician alphabet. Perhaps standing for the name "David", the second letter is inverted to form the hexagram.
• Others claim that the star of David is, in actuality, modeled after the Merkaba.
• Mogen David wineries, now owned by The Wine Group, makes kosher wines such as MD 20/20.
• According to some Dispensationalist Christian churches, the true symbol of the nation of Israel is the burning bush, while the Star of David "in reality is the Satanic star of the demon Remphan" referred to in Acts vii.43 and Amos v.26Jordan, Richard, "Shoeless in the Desert: The Modern Mistake of Moses", page 2. The Grace Journal, Vol 19 Num 3, May/June 2006..

Footnotes