Jewish Star of David

When a person sees the six-pointed star, that person might not know it is called the Star of David but usually recognizes it as a Jewish symbol. Few people, especially non-Jews, know the history of the hexagram or why this symbol represents the Jewish community.

History of the Star of David

The six-pointed star, or hexagram, has existed for many centuries. Its earliest uses, however, were not identified specifically with the Jewish community. It was treated as a symbol of magic or protection among many cultures in its early days. It was also used as an architectural design on synagogues and cathedrals. It was not until the 17th century that it began to represent the Jewish community in general, when it was used on one side of a stone to separate the boundary between the Jewish quarter and the Chistian quarter of Vienna. A cross was on the Christian side of the stone. When the 18th century rolled around, the Star of David had begun to represent the Jewish people both secularly and religiously in Europe. In the 19th century, it began to represent the Jewish people globally.

Use of the Star of David on flags

The Star of David first appeared on a flag in 1354 when Emperor Charles IV allowed the Jews in Prague to display their own flag on state occassions. This sparked the use of the Star of David across Eastern Europe. It gained in popularity when it was chosen as the symbol for the Zionist movement in 1897. During World War II, Jews were required to wear a Star of David on their clothing to identify themselves as Jews in Nazi territory. After the country of Israel was established, they chose a blue Star of David for their country's flag.

Because of its use in recent history, many people now recognize the hexagram as a Jewish symbol. It was used by many cultures throughout time. Today, the most common place it is found is on Israel's national flag.