Gang Sign

Nick wrote two excellent posts at his blog

http://ilovefranklinave.blogspot.com/

which is dedicated to Brooklyn New York City in general, and to the Franklin Avenue Street there in particular.

The first post (titled: Whose symbol? Star of David in Crown Heights) mentions

1. R7 inside a Star of David representing African-American gangs founded originally in Chicago (Folks gang) and Los Angeles (Crips gang).

2. Blue (Crips gang) Star of David juxtaposed with a skull

3. Gold six-pointed star and chain representing also African-American gangs.

Nick brings possible reasons for the spread of the use of the six-pointed star by gangs:

1. To honor David Barksdale, the Chicago gang leader who founded the Black Disciples, and who died in 1974. He was Dubbed "King David" by his followers.

2. African-Americans moved into formerly Jewish areas, which had already Stars of David on different locations.

Nick’s second post (titled: Stars over Crown Heights) mentions artist Kerry James Marshall who researched the adoption of the Star of David by gangs, and who added another possible reason for this phenomenon: its usage by Rastafarians.

Note: I previously showed numerous examples of Rastafarian stars on this blog.

Picture is courtesy of Nick

Copyright: Nick 2009

   Here are more examples from Flickr of the star of the Gangster Disciples

 CC picture by "edkohler"

 CC picture by "reallyboring"

CC picture by "hitormis"

Star of David between two Crosses

Picture of a graffiti on a Jerusalem Church door near Zion Gate, which looks to me, like an expression of Jewish religious intolerance.
Copyright: HADI ORR 2009
Thanks to Dobush from Kfar Aza for referring me to HADI ORR

Shma Israel

Shma Israel in Hebrew means in English “hear oh Israel” and it is a traditional Jewish prayer. Here we see a unique design of a Star of David made from the Hebrew letters of Shma Israel. Thanks to my friend Uri Ofir for referring me to this masterpiece and to Haya Wiesel for letting me publish it here.

You may contact her: 972523651029 contact@silverart.co.il

Next Week Time Magazine Front Page

Thanks to Dobush from Kfar Aza for the following link to Next Week Time Magazine Front Page

 (19.9.2008)

http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20090119,00.html

Depicting Half Star of David with barbed wire.

Strong Nape Tattoo

Hayim Shtayer sent me this Nape Star of David Tattoo  picture along with another picture of a big sign with the words: Strong Home Front makes You Win the War. In Hebrew the same word (OREF) is used for Nape and for Home Front. The common denominator is pride, which seems to return to the heart of the Israelis as a result of the Gaza War consequences.

Picture shot by: Hayim Shtayer

Copyright:  Hayim Shtayer 2008

Star of David Napkin Holder

Star of David Napkin Holder made from:
A Napkin triangle with its point upward;
A Holder triangle with its point downward;
Designed and Produced in Israel by Limor & Yaron
972-54-5331417
Copyright: Limor & Shlomi 2008

Happy New Year in the Middle East

Graphic Designer Hayim Shtayer sent me this card (reflecting the current events in Gaza Strip) with the following explanation:

Yesterday I got this Happy-New-Year-in-the- Middle-East Card, which was designed by my graduate student Natalie Yackoby, who learned in the Wizo Design Academy in Haifa, Department for Graphic Design. In this work Star of David motives are noticeable.

Copyright: Natalie Yackoby 2008
studio: Natka Creative Design