Wednesday, October 31, 2007

British Refugee Camp in Berlin

Refugee-jewish-starFrom designer Hayim Shtayer's collection of Jewish New Year Cards.
Hayim got this card from Ben Gal who appears on the photo as he looked 60 years ago in a British refugee camp in Berlin. Today Ben Gal lives in Rehovot, Israel.

Copyright: Ben Gal 2007

Israel 25th Anniversary

star of David Israel 25th Anniversary medal

star of David on Israel 25th Anniversary medal.

Centenary of Theosophical Society

Hexagram Theosophical Society logo The Hexagram is built-in into the logo of Theosophical Society - here on an 1975 Indian stamp commemorating Centenary of the Theosophical Society.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Son & Daughter of Zion

zion-flag-jewish-starFrom designer Hayim Shtayer's collection of Jewish New Year Cards
Stars of David are on the Pre-Israeli flag and on the chests of the Son & Daughter of Zion.
I rate this drawing as one of the most nostalgic drawings I ever saw.

Frustration After 60 years -2

holocaust-jewish-star-Israeli artPhoto is courtesy of Yossi Regev.
You should see it along with "Frustration After 60 years- 1" since they both express the feelings of Holocaust survivors (see the yellow badge at the bottom) who came to Israel 60 years ago full of hopes for a just society and got frustrated and angry (see the fist at the right side of the painting) in the last years.
Copyrights: Yossi Regev 2007
The work was made in 2002.

Torah Crown

torah-magen-davidRed Star of david above the Torah Crown and a blue one around it.
This is how people wished each other happy new year about hundred years ago: be a Jew, pray, remember Jerusalem...
From designer Hayim Shtayer's collection of Jewish New Year Cards.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Frustration After 60 years

holocaust-jewish-star-Israeli artPhoto of Star of David in the center of an artwork made by Ness Ziona painter Yossi Regev is courtesy of Yossi Regev.
Copyright: Yossi Regev 2007
My first impression was that the things that the state of Israel is going through are so bad that it's better to pass through them with eyes closed.


Yossi is the son of Holocaust survivors. In this work he tried to express their frustration from what is going on in Israel after 60 years since they came here.

Stamp from Holland

Stamp Holland HexagramHolland issued a peace promoting stamp, which incorporated the Hexagram. Photo is courtesy of Zerach from Hebrew stamps collectors’ forum called Collect.

Egyptian Stamp

Star of David pattern Egyptian Stamp Photo of Star of David pattern on an Egyptian Stamp is courtesy of Zerach from Hebrew stamps collectors’ forum called Collect.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Lilien Blessing

blessing-david-shield-artGideon From a stamps-collector's-Forum called Collect brought me Ephraim Moshe Lilien's book Lieder Des Ghetto. The book is from 1902.
We see hands blessing the Star of David in the first pages of the book.
This illustration shows very clearly the importance of the Star of David for Lilien, who was known later as "the first Zionist painter".

Herzl Stamp

Star of David Herzl Stamp
Photo of Star of David on the tab of Herzl Stamp issued on 1954 is courtesy of Ronik from stamps collectors’ forum called Collect. On the body of the stamp appear 7 white stars representing 7 hours of work Herzl dreamed the laborer in the new state would work. R. Erel designed this stamp.

The Good Fence

Star of David The Good Fence Photo of Star of David alonside the Lebanese Cedar on a cancel from 1980 is courtesy of Ronik from Hebrew stamps collectors Forum called Collect.
From wikipedia entry: The Good Fence:
The Good Fence is a popular term for Israel's northern border with Lebanon during the period following the Lebanese Civil War during which southern Lebanon was controlled by the Maronite Christians and the South Lebanon Army, friendly to Israel.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Stamp From Trinidad

Trinidad and the hexagram Postage Stamp Gideon from Israeli stamps collectors' Forum named Collect showed me this stamp From Trinidad, which has a hexagram on each of its corners. What is the connection between Trinidad and the hexagram?

E. Turkowski from Antwerp wrote in his article Magen David on stamps, (the Holy Land philatelist, vol III July 1957 p. 738-739):

The philatelic aspect of a thematic collection must… show two headings: on the one hand Israel (and Judaica) on the other non-Jewish items. 

To call any part of our collection “shields of David used abroad” could apply only where such items could be part of our “Judaica”. On all others, six pointed stars have no relation to the Magen David, and, so to describe those figuring, say on stamps of Morocco, is definitely misleading.

E. Turkowski Also  mentions that the appearance of six pointed stars on Trinidad stamps is explained by the fact that Trinidad is the Spanish word for Trinity.  (And the triangles of the six-pointed star represent the Trinity). 

Thanks to Dobush who sent me this article.

Lilien, Half-Naked Herzl -1

zionism-magen-david
Gideon From a stamps-collector's-Forum called Collect brought me Ephraim Moshe Lilien's book Lieder Des Ghetto. The book is from 1902 and it looks old, as you can see in the photo. We see Stars of David and the figure of Herzl in a quite unusual outfit - he is half naked!
Lieder des ghetto in German translates into Songs of the Ghetto. The book was accompanied by poems by an East European Jew named Morris Rosenfeld, who had socialist ideals similar to those of Lilien.

Arkadi Steinberg - Radioactive

Radioactive-magen-david logoSuggestions to change Israel’s emblem that were designed in 2001 by first and second year students in Wizo Design Academy in Haifa guided by Hayim Shtayer and Terry Schreuer; courtesy of Hayim Shtayer.
Designer: Arkadi Steinberg
Copyright: Arkadi Steinberg 2007
I reckon this suggestion gets a new actual relevance since the talks about next world war and the discoveries of new nuclear threats in the Middle East, since it is based on the international sign for radioactivity.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Together We Stand

Israeli art+Bottles+magen-davidDvorit Ben Shaul's three Star of David colored Bottles stand together on my table - there's an added value to their being together - don't you think?

French Post Cancel

Postage Stamp hexagram
Photo of French Post cancel in the shape of a Star of David on an envelope that had been sent in 1860 is courtesy of Zerach from the [Hebrew] stamp collectors Forum called collect

Enriching The Experience of Buying

A few days ago a new commercial website joined the WWW. It sells Star of David Jewelry.
I let the owner of this commercial website to draw my postings by RSS Feeds in order to enable buyers to taste a bit of art and research while they rest from buying - it opens the road to put signs with poetry in the Malls...

P.S.
Lately the site appeared so I leave this posting as a reminder of an adventure that failed.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Lilien, Music

Star of David music art Gideon From a stamps-collector's-Forum called Collect brought me Ephrayim Moshe Lilien's book Lieder Des Ghetto. We see Stars of David in the skies with angels playing music.
Lieder des ghetto in German translates into Songs of the Ghetto. The book was accompanied by poems by East European Jew named Morris Rosenfeld, who had socialist ideals similar to those of Lilien.

Lilien, Boats

Star of David boats art

Star of David hovers over a page from Ephrayim Moshe Lilien's book Lieder Des Ghetto [Songs of the Ghetto]. The book is from 1902 and it looks old, as you can see in the photo...At the bottom of the page we see candles designed in the shape of boats.
The book was accompanied by poems by East European Jew named Morris Rosenfeld, who had socialist ideals similar to those of Lilien.
Gideon From a stamps-collector's-Forum called Collect brought me the book and I thank him for that.

Kid Surrounded by a Heart and Stars

Star of David art Gideon From a stamps-collector's-Forum called Collect brought me Ephrayim Moshe Lilien's book Lieder Des Ghetto. The book is from 1902 and it looks old, as you can see in the photo. I'm very proud of this photo because it seems that I caught the right morning light. We see a kid surrounded by a heart and stars; some of them are in the shape of a Star of David.
Lieder des ghetto in German translates into Songs of the Ghetto. The book was accompanied by poems by East European Jew named Morris Rosenfeld, who had socialist ideals similar to those of Lilien.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Kinga

bottle-israeli art-jewish-starStar of David on a colored bottle made by my old friend Dvorit Ben Shaul. These bottles are so unique that they are recognized as hers even without her signature. I reckon artists sign their works because otherwise nobody will know who made them. I called this figure Kinga because she arrived with two other colored bottles bearing the figure of King David.

Cordoba 1, Spanish House

spanish synagogue-jewish-starStar of David photo is courtesy of Maria Jimenez . She shot it at the Spanish House attached to the former ancient synagogue built in 1315. Dr. Yigal Bin Nun sent it to me after getting Maria Jimenez's permission to publish it here.
Copyright: Maria Jimenez 2007

Cordoba 2 Spanish House

synagogue-spanish-jewish-starStar of David photo courtesy of Maria Jimenez who shot it at the Spanish House attached to the former ancient synagogue built in 1315. I got this photo from

Dr. Yigal Bin Nun

Copyright: Maria Jimenez 2007

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Windmill

Windmill-hexagramPainter Dick Ben Dor brought me this porcelain Star of David pendant from Holland with windmills painted on it.
It seems that there's no connection to Judaism in this case.

Necklace

Star of David necklaceStar of David necklace.
Photo was taken by Israeli designer Hayim Shtayer
Copyright: Hayim Shtayer 2007

Irena Golin - American Influence

American Influence jewish starThis is one of 15 suggestions to change Israel’s emblem that were designed in 2001 by first and second year students in Wizo Design Academy in Haifa guided by Hayim Shtayer and Terry Schreuer; courtesy of Hayim Shtayer.
Designer: Irena Golin
Copyrights: Irena Golin 2007
American culture is so dominant in Israel that the Israeli culture is finding it hard to breath...

Monday, October 22, 2007

Our Fate in this Region

Arab-Israel-hexagram-logo
This is one of 15 suggestions to change Israel’s emblem that were designed in 2001 by first and second year students in Wizo Design Academy in Haifa guided by Hayim Shtayer and Terry Schreuer; courtesy of Hayim Shtayer.
Designer: Oren Boranov
Copyright: Oren Boranov 2007
I haven't decided yet if I see a tear or a drop of oil- may be both, because it seems that our fate in this region is determined by Arab oil fields.

Dick Ben Dor Cookie - 1

ookie-hexagram food
Israeli painter Dick Ben Dor just came back from food exhibition ANUGA in Koln, Germany, with this photo of Star of David shaped cookies that have no connection what so ever to Jedaism.

Dvorit Ben Shaul, King David Rod

King David Rod star Israeli artA Star of David above King David's rod on a colored bottle made by my friend Jerusalem painter Dvorit Ben Shaul. It took us hours to discover the quality of the packaging material as a unique background.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Nazi Propaganda Stamp - 3

Nazi Propaganda Stamp Stars of DavidNazi Propaganda Stamp imitating British 1935  Jubilee stamp.  Stalin replaces of King George VI, and Stars of David appear at top corners. 

Nazi Propaganda Stamp - 2

Nazi Propaganda Jewish star Stamp Nazi Propaganda Stamps imitating 1937 English Coronation stamp with Stalin replacing Queen Elizabeth, and "S.S.S.R. Britannia / Teheran 28.11.1943" instead of "Postage Revenue / 12 May 1937". Stars of David appear om top corners. The messega is: England is influenced by Stalin and by Jews- beware!

Nazi Propaganda Stamps - 1

Nazi Propaganda Star of David Stamps
Nazi Propaganda Stamps imitating real British stamps issued in 1937. These forged stamps have the Star of David inserted atop the crown at top center. Hammer and sickle appear in the flower at top left. The message: England is influenced by Jews and by Communists- beware!

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Bulgarian Coin

coin-bulgaria Jewish star
Star of David on a silver coin from 2000 celebrating 60 th anniversary of the rescue of Jewish people in Bulgaria.

Tanger a Arzila

tanger-1895-solomon-sealThese stamps were issued in 1895-8 in Tanger, Morocco. I heard a rumor that King of Morocco at that time wanted to marry the daughter of the head of the Jewish community and that’s why the Star of David appears on coins and stamps from that period on, but usually Moroccan six-pointed stars are Muslim Solomon Seals. Picture is courtesy of Dr. Claude Wainstain from France.

Ofira Oriel, Rose Mandala

Magen-David-rose-mandala Israeli artPhoto of Magen David rose mandala is courtesy of my friend mandala painter Ofira Oriel
Size: 40X40 cm
Mixed technique on canvas
It looks to me as if it was made from colored sand and I found it hard to stop looking at it
Copyright: Ofira Oriel 2007

Friday, October 19, 2007

Independence Day Stamps Arrived

Stamp-sheet-star-david
Yesterday I got this stamps sheet from the Israeli Postal Authority. The stamps were designed, according to my idea, by my favorite graphic artist Jennie Gottschalk who lives in New Zealand. In each stamp you see Magen David and baloons made not from lines but from the letters of the Israeli national anthem. There are only 24 of these stamps in the world and if there will be a demand for them their price will go up and up :)

Crusaders’ Coins Minted in Acre

In Yaakov Meshorer's Hebrew-language book, The Third Side of the Coin, Yad Ben Tzvi, 2004 p. 87 I saw two important photos of hexagrams on crusaders’ coins minted in Akko (Acre) in the 13th century. This is the first proof I stumbled upon to the connection between crusaders’ and this emblem. I started suspecting this connection after I saw photos of crusaders’cross within a hexagram on the arch of the ceiling of Saint Mary's in

Lalibela, Ehhiopia, from the 12th century and on the ceiling of the Old Templar church of Garway, Wales.


Alexi Yimtzov, Seven and Eight

Kabalistic-art-Magen-DavidPhoto is courtesy of painter Alexi Yimtzov
Title: Seven and Eight
Size:100/80 cm
Technique :oil on canvas
From the beginning of times the world was divided into eight parts, seven of them corrected themselves. Now we are at the eighth part, which is the hardest and darkest.
Until the correction will happen the light won't come out.

About the artist:
Alexi was born in 1968 in Georgia and came to Israel at the age of 12. He was addicted to heroin for 22 years and has been clean for 5 years. From this clean feeling he creates and makes Kabalistic art.
Pay attention to the Star of David on the center of the top right circles.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Hotel de ville de Saint Quentin

Postage Stamp Hotel Star of David Photo of Star of David windows under the clock tower of Hotel de Ville de Saint Quentin, northern France, is courtesy of stamps collector Zerach from Collect Stamps Forum . Built in 1509 in a Gothic style; named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred in the third century.

Happy new year 2000

Star of David Postage Stamp Star of David on a Happy New Year 2000 stamp designed by Hayim Shtayer based on a Happy New Year card produced in the beginning of the previous century in Germany by an unknown artist. The card belongs to Hayim Shtayer’s huge collection of
Happy New Year cards. It shows the daughter of Zion holding the Zionist Flag as an expression of the Zionist dream to come to Israel.

Dvorit Ben Shaul, Painted Bottle

bottle-Israeli art-magen-davidStar of David on the chest of King David - tiny bottle painted by Jerusalem artist Dvorit Ben Shaul
copyright: Dvorit Ben Shaul 2007

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Shiran Shusterman

swan-poster-david-shield
Designed in 2001 as one of many suggestions to change Israel’s emblem by first and second year students in Wizo Design Academy in Haifa guided by Hayim Shtayer and Terry Schreuer; courtesy of Hayim Shtayer.
Designer: Shiran Shusterman
Copyright: Shiran Shusterman 2007
I like the usage of two out of six triangles of the Star of David as the beak of a swan while its chest is made of the Muslim Crescent. very sofisticated and I'm not sure you saw it without this caption...

Bandaged

bandaged-poster-david-shield
Photo of Star of David made from plasters is courtesy of Hayim Shtayer. A second year student in West Galilee College, under the instruction of Hayim Shtayer, designed it in 1994 as a response to Israel’s situation at that time .
Copyright: Hayim Shtayer 2007

Till The Last Crumb

protest-poster-david-shieldPhoto of Star of David made from crumbed cookie is courtesy of Hayim Shtayer. A second year student in West Galilee College, under the instruction of Hayim Shtayer, designed it in 1994 as a response to Israel’s situation at that time .
Copyright: Hayim Shtayer 2007

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Anchor

Star of David Postage Stamp Anchor
Photo is courtesy of Stamps collector Zerach from Collect Stamps Forum
The Happy Holidays 1949 stamp has the Israeli air force emblem on it, which is based on the Star of David but has a life of its own and I wouldn't have brought it here unless the cool cancel which has a drawing of an anchor in the center of the Star of David and was produced on board the ship Kedma in 1949. Designed by Gabriel and Maxim Shamir.

Indian Cancel

Indian hexagram shaped cancel
Photo of Indian hexagram shaped cancel is courtesy of stamps collector Zerach from Collect Forum

David Ganz Stamp

Star of David David Ganz Stamp Stamps collector
Roni Kagan from Collect Forum website sent me this photo of an envelope with a Czechoslovakian stamp depicting Jewish

scientist David Ganz (1541-1613) tombstone in Prague which was the first Jewish tombstone, which carried on it the Star of David symbol; apparently because the title of Gans’ astronomy book was Magen David.

On the cancel we see a 'Swedish Hat' inside the Star of David - why?
In the mid 1600 Swedish forces attacked Prague and the Jews helped to defend the city for the emperor Emperor Ferdinand II.  

Monday, October 15, 2007

First International Chess Competition

chess-cancel-magen-davidIn the Israel philatelic Federation website there an interesting catalog of cancels. Here's one of the cancels that appear there- it was issued in 1958 for the first international chess competition in Israel and it shows a chess board and a Star of David on it.

Israel: Open Your Eyes

Israel ART Jewish starPhoto is courtesy of painter Iveta Burnstein.
Title: Daughter of Israel Opens Her Eyes
This painting takes part in an exhibition titled 60 years old [Israel] opens its eyes
Curator: Reli Wasser
Opening: 15.10.2007
Rosh Pina Museum
On the catalog I found the following caption [My translation from Hebrew]:
"The woman stands for the nude nation of Israel trying to cover herself with the map of Israel, with its flag and emblem, but many other nations want Israel so that the cover is partial and there are many gaps.Iveta was born in Latvia and studied in the Faculty of Art in Riga. She made Aliya in 1998; lived 4 years in Tel Aviv and decided to move to the North. She makes ceramics decorated with Jewish motifs and paints with oil on canvas and with water colors on parchment".

Pay attention to the three Muslim women staring at the Daughter of Israel.
Copyright: Iveta Burstein 2007
972504488520

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Chewing Gum

Chewing Gum magen davidPhoto of Star of David made from chewing gum is courtesy of Hayim Shtayer. a second year student in West Galilee College, under the instruction of Hayim Shtayer, designed it in 1994 as a response to Israel’s situation at that time .
Copyright: Hayim Shtayer 2007

Reli Wasser, Jerusalem of Hope

Israeli ART Jerusalem magen davidStars of David scattered around in a painting that depicts Jerusalem in white is courtesy of my friend Reli Wasser who says that in every corner of Jerusalem one can feel the holiness of this tough city, and see the Stars of David
This work takes part in an exhibition titled 60 years old [Israel] opens its eyes
Curator: Reli Wasser
Opening: 15.10.2007
Rosh Pina Museum
Copyright: Reli Wasser 2007