Amili Gelbman, Baylis Trial

Photo of Star of David and other religious symbols is courtesy of Amili Gelbman

This is her new work which was born as a reaction to the information she gathered about Mendel Baylis Trial while she was instructing young Jews in an art camp in the U.S, and to stories about Anti- Semitism she heard there.
On the right we see(abstract)Jewish life in the Diaspora, present and past.
On the left: wishful thinking of a brighter future of harmonious religious coexistance: symbols of Cross, half moon and Magen David.

Library for Graphic Designers And Organizations

Itzhak Beery, a native Israeli designer who lives in New York started a web site dedicated to showcasing the ingenuity of the creative minds.

http://www.sixpointproject.com/

Itzhak hopes to create a library of logos and corporate ID for graphic designers and organizations that explore the endless possibilities of the six-point stars model. Readers are invited to visit the site, upload their original designs, and write their design rational, organization story and personal information.

Itzhak Beery

Bleecker & Sullivan Advertising

212-533-0909

ibeery@bsadv.com

Photo is courtesy of Howard Levy / Red Rooster Group and it was published on
www.sixpointproject.org with the following details:

organization:
ENGAJE!
designed by:
Howard Levy / Red Rooster Group
year created:
2002
design rational:
ENGAJE! stands for Enrich, Nurture Grow through Adult Jewish Education. The logo shows a teacher imparting Jewish values to the students.
web site:
http://www.redroostergroup.com

Si Vous Le Voulez

I’m proud to present to you the following postcard, which is one of the most exciting artifacts I published since the beginning of my blog.

Photo of Star of David on the Zionist flag with Herzls' famous slogan: if you’ll want it - it wouldn’t be a legend, is courtesy of Steven Weiss who wrote to me:

The postcard was collected by my grandfather Benny Swartzberg sometime between 1910 and 1920.

The slogan appears in German, Hebrew and French (there were times when English wasn’t the language of the world).
Pay attention to the white color of the Star of David which shows that when the postcard was made the flag didn’t have its ultimate design, as we know it today. In other words: the testimonies about the origin of the Israeli flag needs to be checked again!

Religions And Wars

Pessimistic photo of Star of David shape made from bullets is courtesy of "Gtiboogiemann" who published it on Flickr under the title The Star Of David baby... I guess this sort of black humor can serve as well other religious symbols made from similar militaristic materials. Anyhow this photo illustrates more than 10000 words the tight connection between religions and wars and it merits a citation.

Dar Al-Hajar, Wadi Dhar, Yemen

Photo of Solomon’s seal from 1930s Dar Al-Hajar [Rock Palace], Wadi Dhar, Yemen, is courtesy of LalalaLinda who published it on Flickr.

Tambourine

After I wrote about Jewish-Catholic blogger Athol Bloomer’s claim that the Star of Miriam on her drum was the white Magen David (double mem) with the base lines horizontal, I looked for Star of David Tambourine on Google and was surprised to find a nice wooden Star of David Tambourine made by Yair Emanuel.

Old Sanaa, Yemen

Photo of Solomon's Seal in Old Sanaa, Yemen is courtesy of "LalalaLinda" who published it on Flickr and wrote to me:

I just wish they were sharper images—it was raining that day.

...And I thought it never rains in Yemen.
Anyhow that's another RARE photo to my collection.

White on Blue in Hong Kong

Photo of Star of David is courtesy of "leungski" who published it on Flickr under the title: Jews? Security Company? 
This is a good question and what adds to the confusion is the colors: white on blue, like the Israeli flag's blue on white.

Designs by Dan

Photo of original stained glass Star of David is courtesy of "Designs by Dan" who published it on Flickr, where you can see other models of the same design as well as other splendid original works.

Silk Praise Flags

Photo of lion with cross inside a hexagram is courtesy of artist Belle Ochs who creates praise flags.

Lion over Zion, measures 60"x 45"
Copyright:
Belle Ochs 2007

Rila Monastery

Photo of Hexagram mural from 10th century Rilah Monestary, Sofia, Bulgaria is courtesy of "jacjak" who published it on Flickr.

Villa Romana, Sicily

Photo of Roman Star of David mosaic from Villa Romana, Sicily, is courtesy of "pginot" who published it on Flickr. I already published a closer look of the same mosaic, but I found it right to publish a broader view because of its historical importance.

Doubts

Photo of Star of David Mandala is courtesy of Israeli painter Ofira Oriel
who lives in Modi’in.
Size: 120 x 150
Acrylic on canvas
Ofira didn’t want to send me this painting before it is exhibited in a gallery, but eventually she decided to make a new one for the gallery and I got it. Good decision, if I may say, and the painting has also a new quality compared to her

previously published mandala paintings.

Copyright: Ofira Oriel 2007

Candles factory

Photo of Star of David candles-factory at Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn is courtesy of "hunter.gatherer" who published it on Flickr.

Birthright Israel

Photo is courtesy of Jacob Gontmacher who published it on Flickr and who wrote to me: 

The story is this: I was traveling Israel with a group of "Birthright-Israel" aka "TAGLIT", we were sitting in a tent in the negev a after some group activity we lit some candles and formed a MAGEN-DAVID of them.

Garden Mobile

Photo of bells on a garden mobile in the shape of the Star of David is courtesy of "vikkistein" who published it on Flickr and who wrote to me: 

The photo is of a mobile hanging in my mother's garden. My mom has an eclectic mix of items in her garden that range from the Star of David, to Buddhist sculptures, gargoyles, carved wooden statues of Native American and americana themes, pieces from local artists and her own artistic creations made from old windows doors, bathtubs and boats. Whatever she is drawn to finds a place in her garden and yard

Mike Cloud

Photo of Stars of David in Mike Cloud’s work is courtesy of 
"hoggardb" who published it on Flickr.
Title: "Chicken with Two Stars of David",
2005
oil on linen with toy from children's game
Size: 39.25" x 37.75" x 40"
I like this work because it measures the boundaries between painting and sculpture. It makes one wonder if we glue ONE painting to a floor if it is enough to call it a sculpture?

Decoration from Temple Ruins in Baalbeck

Photo of a hexagram inscribed in stone found in the Temple Ruins in Baalbeck is courtesy of "whodisan215" who published it on Flickr. This is the second hexagram from Baalbeck ruins that I publish here. 

Temple of Bacchus Ceiling, Baalbeck

Photo of bust inside a hexagram in the ceiling of the later 2nd century Temple of Bacchus, Baalbeck, Lebanon is courtesy of "whodisan215" who published it on Flickr. 

Eli Benakot, Space

Photo of Star of David in a work titled SPACE, mixed media on paper glued on canvas, 120x100 cm,is courtesy of my good old friend, musician and painter, Eli Benakot who told me that he used for this work paintings of children collected while he was wandering in the streets of Jerusalem.
Copyrights: Eli Benakot 2007
renatal@hatzor.org.il

Tombs of Marissa

Peters and Thiersch wrote in their book Tombs of Marissa, 1905, p. 60

On the opposite jamb are various pentagrams and hexagrams such as were used as signs of greetings in secret friendly intercourses, as among the Pythagorians.

Marissa is today in the national garden at Beit Guvrin. Regrettably Peters and Thiersch didn’t publish a photo of this important finding which is one of very few that were found in Israel in the 2-3 century B.C.E.
This is the first time I hear about hexagrams used as signs of greetings by Pythagorians and I don’t know were did Peters and Thiersch take this info from.

Megiddo

I took this photo from William Graham’s book, Culture and Conscience, Chicago University press, 1936, p. 245 and colored it a bit in Photoshop.
Graham wrote that it is incised on the side of a building of Megiddo. He thinks that this  symbol originated in astrology and referred to S.A. Cook, The religion of Ancient Palestine in the light of Archaeology, pp. 213.
S.A. Cook wrote there:

Distinctively Jewish are…the pentagram or seal of Solomon, and the hexagram, or Shield of David…they may be of astral origin (Hilprecht, Explorations in Bible Lands, p. 529).

I already mentioned that professor Michael Costa wrote in his Hebrew book about the Golden Section that this Magen David, same as we recognize it today, drawn in lines, is from the period of King Ahab(853 - 874 B.C).

church door at Almeria, Spain

Photo of hexagram on a church door at Almeria, andalucia Spain, dated 1741 is courtesy of "evissa"

Carmelite Order

Photo of three hexagrams around a Carmelite Cross on a crest at Albox parish church, Almeria province, Spain, is courtesy of evissa who published it on Flickr. 

On a web page about THE CARMEL EMBLEM I saw a pentagram not a hexagram and the caption tells us that this is the star of Mary, but

Some think that the central star was originally thought of as an opening, not a star, which represented the cave in which Elijah sheltered when the Lord appeared to him as the still small wind.

Glass Mosaic

Photo of Glass Mosaic Star of David is courtesy of Felicia Poes from WeBeTilin' Studios Elmira, New York, who published it on Flickr and wrote to me:

I am a Mosaic Artist and this was an early piece of mine. It has hebrew text cut from an old hebrew childrens book decoupaged on the surface. It is then covered with hand cut stained glass tiles and grouted. The grout was sealed with a gold leaf finish.

Propaganda

Photo of a Star of David over the head of a poisonous snake representing the Jews is courtesy of "ji the pee" who published it on Flickr with the caption:

the da vinci code is fiction but i know of several people who are confused now about the status of Jesus Christ because of it. in the same way, the protocols
was a fictional account of a jewish conspiracy but a lot of people did (and perhaps still do) consider it kind of true.

Anti-Semitism and Zionism

Photo of Stars of David on Anti-Israel demonstration signs is courtesy of "El Marco" who published it on Flickr under the title

God Will Send Mushroom Cloud on Israel

There’s an interesting connection between Anti-Semitism and Zionism- they trigger each other:

Herzl started his Zionist activity as a direct result of Dreifus Affair, which he covered as a journalist. On the other hand The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion started as a result of the first Zionist congress in Bazel. (Which is mentioned in the last chapter there).

It is a known estimation that the state of Israel was founded as an answer to anti- Semitism in general and to the Holocaust in particular.

This connection between Anti-Semitism and Zionism goes back to the days of Pharaoh and the overwhelming answer to Anti-Semitism is supplied already there:

Exodus 1:12

But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread…

Book covers of The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion

I intend to publish here, on this web site, Book-covers of The

Protocols of The Elders Of Zion

which contain the Star of David. I think such a collection will be a good demonstration to the Anti-Semites’ hate of the Star of David, which equals in its intensity the love of the Zionists and the Pro-Zionists to the same emblem.

On the cover of the edition of the Patriotic Publishing Co., 1934. Chicago, there’s a red Star of David with the Hebrew letters of the name of the LORD. (Photo is courtesy of Wikipedia).

On the cover of the Spanish-language edition published in Mexico City in 2005 there’s a Star of David in the center of a hand while on the fingers there are the signs of Dollar, Cross, Swastica, Communism, and Free-Masons.

Ota Ryu published in Tokyo, 2004 a Star of David above a crow with human face that looks like an Orthodox Jew.

On the fromtpiece of Nilus 1912 edition there’s a Star of David alongside occult symbols that read: "Thus we shall win", "Mark of antichrist", "Tetragrammaton", "INRI", "Tarot", "Great mystery".

Surrounded by Crosses

Photo is courtesy of "SebastianBerlin" who published it on Flickr. He wrote to me:

I just went through this cathedral (do you know it?), out of pure curiosity (actually it's not very beautiful, but it's Moscow's main church, so...), and suddenly I see this candelabra above me! Nobody of the people there knew anything about it. I even got the impression that nobody noticed it before. The church itself originally was built in 1860-1883, torn down in 1931 and rebuilt in 1992-2000. I suppose, this candelabra is an exact copy of the original from the 19th century. But beside it, I never noticed any use of this or any other symbol of Jewry by the Russian orthodox church. It remains a riddle, still to be solved.

Drain Cover

Photo of hexagram pattern on a drain cover is courtesy of "alexwoods" who published it on Flickr and wrote to me that it is 

from Nakano Ward in Tokyo, near Asagaya train station. Readers who know what does this pattern mean in the Japanese culture are invited to comment at the botom of this page.

Arthur Szyk, London

Photo of David's Shield with lions on Whitechapel Road in London is courtesy of "helen.2007" from Flickr who Googled it and found out that 

This is the emblem of the now defunct Jewish Daily News. The emblem is by Arthur Szyk in the Arts and Crafts Style

Arthur Szyk created some of the most interesting  David's Shields I’ve ever seen.

Havdallah Plate from Israel

Photo of Star of David on porcelain Havdallah plate from Israel made a few years ago is courtesy of David Diamant
313diamant@gmail.com
Hebrew caption is from Psalms 19:9

the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Havdallah Plate from Holland

Photo of Star of David on brass Havdallah plate from Holland from the beginning of the previous century is courtesy of David Diamant
313diamant@gmail.com

Betty Rhodes, Gold Scroll

Photo of Stars of David on a gold scroll is courtesy of Betty Rhodes
and Yair Davidiy who published it on Britam/Khazars.

Lodz Cemetery , Poland

Photo of Stars of David in Lodz Cemetery is courtesy of "Stefbra" who published it on Flickr and wrote to me

Well I just visited Jewish Cemetery in my hometown, Lodz. Unfortunately, there are no Jews living here today (my grandfather was a secular Jew) but before WW2 1/3 of Lodz's population was Jewish. The cemetery is considered to be the largest Jewish necropolis in Europe. 

It reminds me of the verse from Ecclesiastes 5:8

If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don't marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.

Weathervane

Photo of a Star of David Weathervane is courtesy of Max Nathans from Kibbutz Matzuva in the north of Israel. It is an important shot since it illustrates that the six points of the Magen David symbolize God's rule in six directions: north, south, east, west, up and down".

Ron Cohen, The Book of Esther

Photo of Star of David with painting of Mordecai on his horse in The Book of Esther is courtesy of Tzfat artist Ron Cohen. Size: 20 cm.
Copyright: Ron Cohen 2007
alonroon@smile.net.il
972547836202

Ron Cohen, Blessed will you be

Photo of painting on wood of Star of David with verses from Deuteronomy is courtesy of Tzfat artist Ron Cohen
Deuteronomy 28:3

Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field

28:6

Blessed will you be when you come and blessed when you go

28:8

The LORD will bless your barns and everything you do. The LORD your God will bless you in the land that he is giving you.

Copyright: Ron Cohen 2007
alonroon@smile.net.il
972547836202

Ron Cohen, deers

Photo of painting on wood of Star of David with deers and flowers is courtesy of Tzfat artist Ron Cohen
Copyright: Ron Cohen 2007
alonroon@smile.net.il
972547836202

Ron Cohen, Mordecai

Photo of Star of David within Star of David with Mordecai riding his horse is courtesy of Tzfat artist Ron Cohen
The Hebrew words are from Esther 8:15, 17

Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. For the Jews there was light and gladness and joy and honor.

Copyright: Ron Cohen 2007
alonroon@smile.net.il
972547836202

Praise the Lord

Photo of Star of David framing a painting of a man praying to God is courtesy of Tzfat artist Ron Cohen
Copyrights: Ron Cohen 2007
alonroon@smile.net.il
972547836202
The translation for the Hebrew word Haleluya on top is Praise God. It is taken from
Psalms 150

Ron Cohen, Flowers Of The Field

Photo of Star of David with flowers of the field is courtesy of Tzfat artist Ron Cohen
Copyright: Ron Cohen 2007

alonroon@smile.net.il
972547836202

Music Box

Photo of Star of David Music Box on an old tabletop disc machine from 1925 is courtesy of Keith Wright who wrote to me:

Thorens was originally a Swiss company that made music boxes and later used its clockwork mechanisms on phonographs and gramophones then made the jump to electrify their work. I would not be qualified to comment on any meaning behind the box design and the company seems to have lost interest in its past--they've ignored any direct queries from me, anyway. The design did strike me as reminiscent of a Star of David, but that's all I can say.

I found another Thorens Star of David on a music box in Ebay along with many other Jewish symbols in a painting made by Jewish-American painter Arthur Szyk in 1943.
It seems that Thorens allowed customers to put their own design on their music boxes and the one Keith owns belonged probably to a Jew.

Ron Cohen, If I Forget Thee

Photo of Star of David under the Hebrew verse from
Psalms 137: 5

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

is courtesy of Tzfat artist Ron Cohen
Copyright: Ron Cohen 2007

alonroon@smile.net.il
972547836202

Ron Cohen, Ornamented With Tribes' Names

Photo of Star of David on a plate ornamented with flowers and with the Hebrew names of the twelve tribes is courtesy of Tzfat artist Ron Cohen
Copyright: Ron Cohen 2007

alonroon@smile.net.il
972547836202

Ron Cohen, Ornamented With Flowers

Photo of Star of David on a plate ornamented with flowers is courtesy of Ron Cohen (b. in Haifa in 1957)

Copyright: Ron Cohen 2007
alonroon@smile.net.il
972547836202
Tsfat : Israel

Sabina Saad, The Six Million

Photo of six Yellow Badges which stand for the zeroes in the number Six Million on the smoke that arises from the Nazi concentration camps chimneys is courtesy of illustrator and artist Sabina Saad.

Copyright: Sabina Saad 2007
Israel
Ramot Meir
Phone: 97289410231

Hanuman temple

Photo of a hexagram at the  entrance to the small Hanuman temple at Janadapura is courtesy of "Steve Weary Family" who published it on Flickr and wrote to me: 

This photo comes from a Hindu temple in Kerala, South India dedicated to Hannuman, a monkey god. The Star of David is quite common in Hindu iconography but it is called something else, I think the double star. 

Tarot- Tetraktys

Tetraktys is a mystical counting system graphically represented by a pyramid composed of dots arranged in rows. The Tetraktys of the number ten is made of ten dots arranged in four rows representing the numbers 1-4 (1+2+3+4=10).
Photo of Hexagram, pentagram, octagram, cross and other symbols in a Tetraktys is courtesy of Tasha Gallery, 42 Frishman, Tel Aviv, Phone: 972-50-6565552
Tali Rabinovich apart from being a gallery owner engages also in Tarot counseling.
This is a most important link between Tarot and the Pythagorian Tetraktys.

Tarot- The Hermit

Photo of light in the shape of Hexagram in the hermit’s lantern is courtesy of Tali Rabinovich, Tasha Gallery, 42 Frishman, Tel Aviv, Phone: 972-50-6565552 who wrote to me that the hermit is lead by the Star of David. This card recommends us to get out of the present reality and see the right way without others' intervention.
Tali Rabinovich apart from being a gallery owner engages also in Tarot counseling.

Tarot, The Magician

Photo of Hexagram on the belt of the magician is courtesy of Tali, Tasha Gallery, 42 Frishman, Tel Aviv, Phone: 972-50-6565552 who wrote to me that the magician is focused and lucid and that’s why he controls his life.
Tali Rabinovich apart from being a gallery owner engages also in Tarot counseling.

Tarot, Wheel of Fortune

Photo of a Hexagram on the Wheel of Fortune is courtesy of Tali, Tasha Gallery, 42 Frishman, Tel Aviv, Phone: 972-50-6565552 who wrote to me that this card heralds good fortune and tells us that life always means movement and change, once we’re up once, we’re down, we have to accept them both.