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

Yin Yang Magen David

The Chinese Yin Yang symbol represents unity of the opposites as well as the Magen David, which represents (among other meanings) the same idea. Here they appear in combination. Combination of symbols like this is a special phenomenon worthy to serve as subject to study, separately from the phenomenon of the symbols that appear next to each other that I mentioned many times when they appeared alongside the Magen David I mean symbols like: White lily, Menorah, Herzl, Amazons’ Shield, Cross, Swastika. Thanks to Dobush From Kfar Aza for directing me to this picture and to the rights holders: Tact-Records.com 2008

Akbar’s shield with Solomon’s seal

This metal shield (click the link) with the zodiac Signs and with Solomon’s Seal framing the date 1594, belonged to the Moghul emperor Akbar (1542 –1605) and it is presented in the British Museum. On the web page of The disciples of Bhagawan Shri Lahari Krishna they write that the hexagram is known for almost all the Hindus in India as a symbol of the arrival of their king, who would unite them and rebuild the Indian nation. The authors of this page go on and tell us that Akbar’s shield reflects this messianic belief, since he put this six-pointed star near Pisces believing that the Indian Messiah is expected to come in February.

This messianic belief (assocated to the hexagram) is amazingly similar to the the Jewish and the Christian messianic beliefs - so the question is where exactly did this belief originate?

Abundance of Solomon Seals in Kyrgyzstan

Picture is courtesy of “retlaw snellac” from Flickr who shot it at Babur's House in Osh.  The decoration on this wall is full of Solomon seals, and what’s interesting here is the connection to King Solomon, since (as “retlaw snellac” mentions under the picture):

1. There’s a legend that the city of Osh has been founded by Solomon or by Alexander the Great.
2. In the center of the city is Solomon's mountain, which got its name in the 16^th century because tradition has it that the prophet Suleyman was buried at the foot of this mountain.
3. There is nearby a little cave with water drops coming from the roof called the tears of Suleyman.

Note: The population of Kyrgyzstan is mostly Muslim.

Video for Christmas

Dobush from Kfar Aza referred me to this cool video exploring religious symbols in a Jewish / Christian family, including some David Stars.

Abundance of Hexagrams in Tashkent capital of Uzbekistan

 All rights reserved to Oded Israeli (2008) who shot this picture at the museum of ceramics in Tashkent. The Hexagram on the right is not identical to the one at the left. Each has another smaller Hexagram in its center. In the second line above the Hexagrams, there is a line of Fleur de Lis. This white lily Symbol accompanies Hexagrams in different cultures during hundred of years. In addition, there are dozens of blue Hexagrams at the bottom.

Candy Box in the shape of a Star of David

This is a commercial advertisement from the fifties showing a drawing of a candy box in the shape of a Star of David held in the hand of a beautiful woman. This style of drawings was replaced later by pictures of candy boxes and of beautiful women, which left fewer places for imagination. Anyhow, seeing the Jewish star in such a nostalgic context is quite unique, so I’m proud to bring you this excellent picture.
Copyright: Zako 2008