Jews, what's with the 'Star of David'?

Question

The one displayed today is not actually the authentic S.o.D. but the family symbol of the Rothschilds, and to the best of my research & knowledge it is NOTHING at all to do with judaism, can anybody give any insight into the authentic origin of this occult symbol? Also why is it used today on Israel's flag instead of the candle? If you ask me it seems tied to occult groups, not the pious.

I would appreciate to hear some jewish insight on this matter.

Answer 1

SOME INSIGHT FOR YOU;
Star of David
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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
The Star of David in the oldest surviving complete copy of the Masoretic text, the Leningrad Codex, dated 1008.The Shield of David or Magen David in Hebrew, מָגֵן דָּוִד with nikkud or מגן דוד without, pronounced Magen David [ma.'gen da.'vid] in Modern Hebrew and Mogein Dovid ['mɔ.geɪn 'dɔ.vid] or Mogen Dovid ['mɔ.gen 'dɔ.vid] in Ashkenazi Hebrew and Yiddish is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish Community and Jewish beliefs. It is named after King of ancient Israel; and its usage began in the Middle Ages, alongside the more ancient symbol of 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.

Contents [hide]
1 As a Jewish symbol
1.1 Shield form
1.2 Shield with stars
2 Use by the Nazis
3 Magen David Adom
4 See also
5 Notes
6 Footnotes
7 External links



[edit] As a Jewish symbol
According to some Judaic sources, the Star/Shield of David signifies the number seven: that is, the six points plus the center. The earliest extant Jewish text to mention it is the Eshkol Ha-Kofer by a Karaite named Judah Hadassi, from the 12th century CE: "Seven names of angels precede the mezuzah: Michael, Gabriel, etc. ... Tetragrammaton protect you! And likewise the sign, called the 'Shield of David', is placed beside the name of each angel."

The Menorah on the Arch of Titus: notice the three stems on each side plus the central stem, totaling seven
The number seven has religious significance in Judaism, e.g., the six days of Creation plus the seventh day of rest, the six working days in the week plus Shabbat, the Seven Spirits of God, as well as the Menorah in the ancient Temple, whose seven oil lamps rest on three stems branching from each side of a central pole. And so on. Perhaps, the Star of David came to be used as a standard symbol in synagogues because its organization into 3+3+1 corresponds to the Temple's Menorah, which was the more traditional symbol for Judaism in ancient times.

Exact origins of the symbol's relation to Jewish identity are unknown. Several theories were put forward. According to one hypothesis[citation needed], 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 (Δ), 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.

The earliest archaeological evidence for the Jewish use of the symbol comes from an inscription attributed to Joshua ben Asayahu in late 7th Century BCE Sidon.

"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 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". [1] 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. [2]

Kabbalistically, the Star/Shield of David symbolizes the six directions of space plus the center, under the influence of the description of space found in the Sefer Yetsira: Up, Down, East, West, South, North, and Center. Congruently, under the influence of the Zohar, it represents the Six Sefirot of the Male (Zeir Anpin) united with the Seventh Sefirot of the Female (Nekuva).

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.


[edit] Shield form
The Shield of David is not mentioned in ancient rabbinic literature. Notably, not a single archeological proof exists concerning the use of this symbol in the Land of Israel during BCE. 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. Likewise, a stone bearing the shield from the arch of a 3-4th century synagogue in the Galilee was found. [3]

Jewish lore[citation needed] 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 once speculated, the hexagram may be a relic from Ancient Egyptian religious practices, adopted by Jews engaged in the occult and syncretism as early as the era of King Solomon. However such claims are unlikely due to the scarcity of any examples in Egyptian religious practices BCE. For example, where Hellenistic Gnostics and Egyptians did use pentagrams in their amulets (such as the "pentalpha" symbol), they did not use hexagrams. It is notably absent from the ancient papyri.

The earliest Jewish literary source which mentions the "Shield of David" is the Eshkol Ha-Kofer by Judah Hadassi from the middle of the 12th century CE, where seven Shields are used in an amulet for a mezuzah. It appears to have been in use as part of amulets before it was in use in formal Jewish contexts.

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 was associated with the mezuzah. Originally, the hexagram may have been employed 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.

Answer 2

The oldest and most traditional Jewish symbol is the seven limbed menorah. The Star of David AKA Mogan David is a relatively recent symbol that is mainly associated with the Zionist movement. It probably developed from the Babylonian numbering system, which was base 60 and/or their use of square tiles to make geometric designs. The Mogan David symbol has been found in many places not associated with Jews, including mosques. When the Zionist movement started, the Mogan David was used more and more, to the extent that when Hitler needed a symbol for the Jews, he used it also. During WW TWO, the Jews in the Palestine Mandate who fought for the British used a flag very similar to the Israeli flag of today. The issue of the Mogan David being a nationalist symbol was the main reason the Arabs objected to the Red Mogan David being used for marking ambulances, so instead the Red Cross added the Red Diamond to the list of protected symbols.

Answer 3

Don't worry, you will not offend anyone. I don't even understand why you would think it would offend- or why the answer you read in another question thinks it is offensive to wear the Star of David. If you want to wear one, wear it. Don't be afraid or worried about what other people might think. It is a free country, free world. No one can tell you what to do when it comes tor religion. Especially the Jewish religion. S..... :)

Answer 4

The six points symbolize God's rule over the universe in all six directionsOriginally, the Hebrew name Magen David -- literally "Shield of David" -- poetically referred to God. It acknowledges their military hero, King David, did not win by his own might, but by the support of the Almighty. This is also alluded to in the third blessing after the Haftorah reading on Shabbat: "Blessed are you God, Shield of David."

Answer 5

The Star of David represents their coming Messiah. I don't about the Rothschild's.

Answer 6

Here you go sir!

http://www.jewfaq.org/signs.htm

Blessings
David T