The Star of David

1125 Words5 Pages
The Crescent Moon of Islam, the Cross or Fish of Christianity, the Swastika in Hinduism: these symbols have been used for years to distinguish one religion from another and make each one their own. Each symbol in every religion has a story behind it. The history of that religion and why believers chose that icon as their religious symbol are interpreted and then re-interpreted. However, with so many religions and cults in the world, it can be difficult to isolate one symbol with one religion. The Star of David, often associated with Judaism, falls into this conundrum. While the Star of David is often used to symbolize Judaism, many people are unaware that it was once more prominent in other religions and followings before it was adopted into Judaism. The Star of David, also known as a hexagram, was not widely used as a symbol of Judaism in the modern era until it was used as a symbol for the flag of Israel. The website Jewish Virtual Library seems to reinforce the universal use of the star. The symbol of two intertwined triangles was common in the Middle East and North Africa as a “good luck” talisman. It appears in some early Jewish artwork but never exclusively used as purely Jewish symbolism. The nearest thing to an “official” Jewish symbol during the Middle Ages was the menorah. Seldom explored in historical texts is the fact that Jews during the Middle Ages were required to wear badges to identify themselves. However, the badges worn at that time were not the familiar six-pointed star. Artist Nuno Goncalves painted a Rabbi wearing a badge looking like an asterisk, and not a star, nearly four hundred years ago. In the 17th century, the Star of David began to be used on the exterior of synagogues, though scholars disagree on why this particular symbol may have been chosen. During this era, the menorah overwhelmingly transmitted to believers the religious
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