Jewish Symbols
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Peace
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A dove carrying an olive branch in its mouth – In a Biblical tale, Noah releases a dove to scout for vegetation and assess whether it is safe to exit his vessel, after a great flood. Noah knew the coast was clear when the dove returned bearing an olive branch. Early Christians adopted this symbol in their baptisms. In time, it also came to represent peace.
Menorah – The word means “lamp” in modern Hebrew. The 7-stemmed menorah is on the emblem of the State of Israel today. Initially, the Bible writes, Moses created a 7-stemmed menorah of gold, which is said to have been transferred to the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, where it remained lit at all times. The holiday of Khanuka, festival of lights, features a 9-stemmed menorah and celebrates a major victory over occupying forces who had desecrated the Temple.
Lion of Judah – In a Biblical story, the dying Jacob compared his son Judah to a lion. Judah and his descendants established a powerful Jewish tribe in ancient Israel, with Jerusalem as their capital. Today, this lion is featured in Jerusalem’s official crest and on many a Torah mantles.
Live long and prosper – The phrase itself is not historically associated with Judaism. However, in 1967, Leonard Nimoy, a Jewish actor, decided to deliver the line on Star Trek (the original series!), in combination with this ancient Jewish priestly gesture that he learned in his youth.
Tree of life – One of the earliest Bible stories describes the tree of life, whose fruits were not to be consumed. Over the millennia, this symbol came to be used as a metaphor for the Bible itself.
White lily – About 2500 years ago, the Persian empire defeated the Babylonian empire and permitted exiled Jews to return to their homeland and reestablish an autonomous government. It is believed that the white lily as ubiquitous in Israel, at the time. The lily was depicted in newly-minted Jewish coins of the period, and resurrected in the Israeli currency of today. In Christian tradition, the white lily symbolizes Mary’s purity.
Star of David
It is unclear when or how the six-pointed star (“hexagram”) was first associated with Jewish culture’s sign of protection, the star of David. For millennia, the hexagram was used as a decorative shape in cultures, including Mesopotamia, Britain, and India. It was later used in Europe by notaries, both Jewish and non-Jewish. The association of the hexagram with Jewish culture, as the star of David, snowballed in the last couple of hundred years. When the early Zionists considered symbols to place on the Zionist flag, the Star of David was a natural choice.
Chai – The word means “alive” or “living” and came into prominence on amulets and jewelry in medieval times.
How did the Israeli flag come to look this way?
