Magen David
Magen David is an ancient Jewish symbol that has been identified for hundreds of years with Jewish tradition. It has been incorporated in embroidery on Torah arks, in decorations on tombstones in cemeteries, at entrances to synagogues, and in additional Jewish elements. The symbol is called 'Magen David' (Shield of David) because according to common assumption, this shape was engraved on the shields carried by warriors in King David's army.
History of the Symbol[edit | edit source]
The first mention of the symbol is found in a Karaite book called 'Eshkol HaKofer', while the first time it appeared in print was in the book 'Raziel HaMalach' which according to some Torah greats was written during the time of Adam HaRishon.
The shape of the symbol, composed of two interlaced triangles forming together a six-pointed shape, has given rise to extensive interpretation in Jewish literature regarding its symbolic meaning.
During the Holocaust, the Nazis ordered Jews in ghettos to wear a yellow patch in the shape of a Magen David on their lapels to identify them as Jews, thereby humiliating them and distinguishing them from other residents.
With the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionists adopted the symbol and incorporated it into the design of the state flag. Consequently, many Charedi Jews stopped using the symbol to reject any ideological-philosophical association between themselves and the Zionist movement.
The Frierdiker Rebbe's Approach[edit | edit source]
On Shemini Atzeres 5686 (1925), a great professor (Professor Barchenko) arrived and requested a private audience with the Frierdiker Rebbe. After the holiday, his request was granted, and he asked the Frierdiker Rebbe to explain the meaning of the symbol according to Chassidus. The Rebbe replied that in Chassidus there is no reference to this and directed him to speak about it with his son-in-law, the Rebbe, who was a great expert in Kabbalah. Following that meeting, an extensive correspondence took place between the Rebbe and the professor regarding the meaning of the symbol according to Kabbalah.
According to the Rebbe's mother, the correspondence included six aspects of the symbol according to Kabbalah, Chassidus, astronomy, and more. She also added that the booklet was thick...
The professor, who was satisfied with the visit, sent an envelope with several hundred rubles to the Frierdiker Rebbe, but the Rebbe immediately sent the envelope back to him in its entirety.
The Rebbe's Approach[edit | edit source]
Regarding the use of the symbol, in most cases the Rebbe explicitly instructed to remove the symbol.
However, there was one isolated case where the Rebbe instructed not to remove the symbol from a tombstone.
On one of the days, a Kiddush cup on which the Magen David symbol was engraved in a not-so-prominent way that isn't visible. The Rebbe's menorah is adorned with a Magen David symbol and two lions between which stand the Tablets of the Covenant with rounded tops. This teaches that apparently we have no concept of the king's possessions, and we have his clear instructions. Similarly, in the Torah ark at 770, there is a reminder of the Magen David in its upper part, in a form that is not at all prominent to the eye and is not visible.
At 770, when the Rebbe was asked whether to place a Magen David symbol on the paroches (curtain covering the ark), the Rebbe instructed not to place it. And similarly at Beis Rivkah, they received instruction to remove it.
External Links[edit | edit source]
- Review of the Rebbe's approach to the symbol, in Between Exile and Redemption, Vaad Chayalei Beis Dovid Tzfat Branch, Lag B'Omer 5775 (2015)
- Naftali Silberberg, The Star of David: Kabbalistic Insights Into the Jewish Star Chabad.org website