Tuesday, June 26, 2007

First Zionist Congress Souvenir Sheet

Star of David Souvenir Sheet There’s a Star of David (and an icon of Herzl and an Israeli flag) on the Souvenir Sheet issued on 03/09/1996.
the First Zionist Congress was held in the Casino building in Basel, which is shown in the center of the sheet. 

Composition

Photo of a black Star of David window on azure wall is courtesy of "César Augusto" who published it on Flickr. It was taken in Algarve, south of Portugal, from the façade of a lone house where nobody lives now, where César Augusto used to spend his holidays every year. I like the composition, and the uniqueness of the making of the symbol from stones cut in order to fit its contour.

Jewish Bookplates

Jewish star Bookplates

Photo of Stars of David on the Eichthal Coat of Arms is copied from Jewish Encyclopedia

I feel that Jewish Bookplates are a promising source for Star of David searchers like me. E.g.:
The Bookplate Collection at The Jewish Theological Seminary Library which has about 3000 items.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Zionist Wall Hanging

Postage Stamp Zionism art jewish star A Star of David on a stamp titled Zionist Congress - 100 Years Since The 1st Congress.
The stamp shows a wall hanging of Herzl on David's Tower. The design was inspired by the style of the artist E.M. Lilien.

Yellow Star of David In Jewish Art

Dr. Abraham D. Lavender from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology in Florida International University wrote an article titled Art as an Expression of Sephardic and Crypto-Jewish Identity. Here’s an excerpt about yellow star of david in jewish art:
 Artistic expressions of Ha Shoah generally did not begin on a large scale until the 1980s because of the emotionalism and shock of the annihilation, but now this is by far the most frequent and most emotional subject (Baigell, p. ix). Previously unused or little used themes now are frequently used: for example, railroad tracks, boxcars, burning buildings, and the yellow Star of David. In fact, Ouaknin states that since Ha Shoah the yellow Star of David has acquired a noble title and bearing as a reaction to it being a symbol of Nazi annihilation.

Korner's Folly


Photo is courtesy of "allstarstuff' who published it on Flickr and wrote to me:
It is part of the floor in a small area of a house in Kernersville, NC called Korner's Folly. I'm not sure that it was meant to be a religious symbol; given the nature of the house, my guess is that the owner/architect, Jules Körner, just liked the geometric shapes. 

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Pyramids Are Interlaced Triangles

I stumbled upon Egypt Revisited By Ivan Van Sertima and copied the following excerpt:
In regards to their esoteric meaning, the pyramids appear to have symbolized the fusion of heaven and earth or, more correctly stated, spirit and matter. This is seen in the Hermetic symbol of the interlaced triangles (now erroneously called the Star of David). One triangle pointing up reflecting the ascent into spirit, and one pointing down representing the descent into matter. Known by the Egyptions as the star of creation it also embodies the axiom “as above so below”, that which we see in our solar or macro system with the sun at its center and the several planets which orbit around it, we also see in the micro system or cosm in the minute atom with its nucleus, and the protons, electrons and neutrons, which likewise orbit around it.

I sent it to Dr. Asher Eder and asked him to comment. Here is what he said:
Nice idea - but where from does that author take the idea that the pyramids are interlaced triangles?
Why does he say the hexagram is e r r e o n u s l y called "Star of David"?