|
The Star of David is probably the most
widely-recognized symbol of Jewish identity and nationalism today. It can be
found on Jewish public buildings in Jewish communities all over the world, is a
popular piece of Jewish Jewelry and also adorns the flag of the State of
Israel. The Star of David is also known by its Hebrew name, Magen David.
Star of David Jewelry is viewed by wearers as
an opportunity to show identification with the global Jewish community, as well
as the State of Israel. In recent decades, the symbol of the Star of David has
been intensively explored by Judaica artists who have recreated this motif time
and time again in their own unique ways. The Star of David seems to be a
symbol that the consumers, be they Jewish or not, fashion lovers,
traditionalists, believers and non-believers alike, never get tired of.
The Hebrew name for the Star of David, as
mentioned above, is Magen David. The literal translation of the Hebrew name is
actually Shield of David and not Star of David. Some believe that the Magen
David featured on the shields of King David's' warriors, although there is no
solid evidence for this. The hexagram shape has been understood by different
peoples over the years to symbolize divine protection. Therefore, those who
claim that the shape is associated with King David, argue that it is only
fitting that the great warrior of Israel, King David, would make use of this
powerful symbol. Additionally, there are those who go further and explain that
the two interlocking triangles that make up the Star of David are made
up of two Hebrew letters, "Dalet" that appears twice in the name of
David.
What is interesting to note is that the Star of
David only became popular at the end of the nineteenth century. Up until then
the sign was sued in witchcraft ceremonies, considered to have mystical powers.
The hexagonal shape's importance was a concept in Eastern cultures that were
unrelated to Judaism.
There is a five-pointed star- similar to the
Star of David- that is also often associated with the Star of David. This
five-pointed symbol has been connected to a special ring owned by none other
than King Solomon that was used to fight off evil spirits. This star appears quite
often in Kabbalah Jewelry and is sometimes known as the "seal of
Solomon."
From about the seventeenth century, the Star of
David started appearing Jewish communities as a collective symbol, especially
in Synagogues in Europe. At the end of the nineteenth century the symbolism of
the star drastically changed when it was adopted by the Zionist movement. Since
then the star has become a universal symbol in Jewish communities around the
world.
There is something incredibly powerful behind
the choice of the Star of David as a symbol of Jewish pride and
nationalism when one considers the way it was cynically used against the Jews
from the third century of the twentieth century. During the Second World War,
the Nazis, may their name be wiped out, forced Jewish people to wear a yellow
badge in the shape of a Star of David. After the war, Israel was established as
the national homeland of the Jewish people after a hiatus of over two-thousand
years. The use of the Star of David on the flag of Israel is therefore a
profoundly moving statement to the world; one that says that we will never
forget what we endured in these two-thousand years of exile but we will
continue forward with our heads held high in our homeland.
Nowadays, it is very common to see Jewish
people wearing the Star of David in a variety of ways; as rings,
pendants, earrings and pins. Jewish Jewelry
is often worn by people as they feel that this is a tangible way of displaying
their pride in their people and their land. The Star of David is often combined
with other Jewish symbols in Jewish pieces of jewelry such as the timeless
Shema prayer that has accompanied the Jewish people throughout their journeys,
the Hamsa Hand
which is another symbol that has found its way into Judaism, fish which are
considered a sign of luck in Judaism, pomegranates which symbolize fertility,
and many, many more.
|
