Star of David facts for kids
The Star of David (✡), also known as the Shield of David or Magen David in Hebrew, is a very famous symbol. It is made from two equilateral triangles that cross over each other to form a six-pointed star, called a hexagram. Today, it is widely recognized as a symbol of modern Jewish identity and Judaism.
Unlike some other important Jewish symbols like the menorah (a special candle holder) or the shofar (a ram's horn trumpet), the Star of David was not always a symbol used only by Jewish people.
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How the Star of David Became a Key Jewish Symbol
The Star of David became a very important symbol for the worldwide Zionist movement. This happened after it was chosen for the flag at the First Zionist Congress in 1897. People chose it because it was already used by some Jewish communities. Also, it didn't have strong religious meanings that might cause disagreements.
The earliest Jewish use of this symbol came from old Arabic literature. Jewish mystics, called Kabbalists, used it in special protective charms called segulot. In these charms, it was often known as the Seal of Solomon. Interestingly, this symbol was also used in Christian churches as a decoration many centuries before it was first seen in a Jewish synagogue.
The Symbol's Spread in Europe
During the 1800s, the Star of David started to become very popular among Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. One big reason for this, according to a scholar named Gershom Scholem, was that Jewish people wanted a symbol to represent their religion and identity, just like the Christian cross represented Christianity.
Before the 1800s, the symbol was mainly used officially in Jewish communities in places like the Czech Republic, Austria, and parts of Southern Germany. Its use in these areas began in medieval Prague.
When the Name "Star of David" Appeared
The name "Star of David" or "Shield of David" for the hexagram shape became common in the 1600s. The term "Shield of David" is also used in the Siddur (a Jewish prayer book). Here, it is a special name for the God of Israel.
Images for kids
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The Star of David in the Leningrad Codex, a very old copy of the Masoretic Text, from 1008.
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A page from a medieval book of Jewish mysticism (Sefer Raziel HaMalakh, 13th century) showing segulot (charms).
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An old flag of the Jewish community in Prague.
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Herzl's idea for a flag, drawn in his diary.
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Early ideas for the Zionist flag by Max Bodenheimer (top left) and Herzl (top right), compared to the flag used at the 1897 First Zionist Congress (bottom).
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The yellow badge that Jewish people were forced to wear during the Holocaust.
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Béla Guttmann, a famous footballer for Hakoah Vienna.
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A Star of David inside the Schneider Synagogue in Istanbul.
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A Star of David inside the Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue in Safed.
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A recruitment poster from World War I.
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A Star of David made from stained glass.
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An embroidered horse cover from Morocco.
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See also
In Spanish: Estrella de David para niños
