Thursday, May 03, 2007

Torah Ark

Magen David on the upper part of a Torah Ark from Frankfurt/Oder, Germany, dated 1811/12, made from wood, carved and painted.
It is very common to see Magen Davids on Torah Arks all around the world.
Photo is courtesy of "*Checco*' who published it on Flickr.

Inventiveness


Photo of Magen David with Torah box inside is courtesy of Andrea Mercado who published it on Flickr.
It is an inspiring concept which challenges to ask what other things can be made this way?
My answer is: ice cubes; Yellow cheese...
What's yours?

Kite

Photo of this gorgeous six-pointed star kite is courtesy of "S3b" who published it on Flickr. I intend to publish in a few months a Power Point Presentation of interesting usages of the six-pointed star, and this photo will surely be included in it. 

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Ministry of National Infrastructures

Ministry of National Infrastructures Jewish starthe logo of the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructures has a superb Star of David design, but it is hard to find what is the connection between it and the Ministry’s responsibilities.

What Is A Symbol

What Is A Symbol HexagramPhoto of Photoshop symbols of the major world religions is courtesy of Siuloir-Domhanda who published it on Flickr. It includes from top-clockwise:
Neopagan spirituality, judaism, christianity, sikh faith, hinduism, taoists, Islam Buddhism.
The Star of David is a Symbol – but what is a Symbol?
I entered the keywords DEFINE: Symbol into Goggle’s search-window and got many interesting answers. You may do the same...

Moroccan Seal of Solomon

Moroccan Seal of Solomon Marc Pelletier wrote a brilliant article that tries to answer the question:
Why did the Moroccan ruler My Sulayman [1792-1822 AD] use the Seal of Solomonon for his bronze Falus? It also answers the question why this shape appears on some Moroccan flags…
But how did this symbol (Seal of Solomon) succeed in rallying the population to bronze coins? It was seen as a protective magical icon and as endowed of it's original power as a buckler. Moreover, it's magical powers are multiplied by the fact that it also represent a pair of eyes - one upright, and the other flipped over - sharing a single pupil. It thus acts as a shield from the "evil eye". It is preponderant with it's magical power.

Comment by Yosef22Adar
Other Moroccan Coins:





                                                              1893 bronze 8-fels coin

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Tables of the Covenant Lions and Stars of David

Photo is courtesy of Rob Hoey who published it on Flickr and took it on manhattan, New York City. 
I already wrote several times that the Magen David has a tendency to appear in the company of other important Jewish emblems, that compete with it on the birthright, like the Menorah, lions, Herzl etc. Here it is seen along with the Ten Commandments, the Tables of the covenant.
On 11 July 1948 David Ben Guryon suggested that the symbol of the Israeli state would be two lions holding the Tables of the covenant, just like here.