Pain Killer

Rabbi Nissim Hayim Moshe Mizrachi was the chief Rabbi in Jerusalem in the 18th century. In his Responsa book titled Admat Hakodesh he answered a question: is it allowed to tell a non-Jew on Saturday to draw with ink a Solomon's Seal on the swollen face of a Jew who suffers pains, since it is a known cure that kills pains. Near the Solomon's Seal is, in the book, a drawing of a Star of David. We can learn from this story that in the 18th century in Jerusalem the Star of David was recognized in the name of Solomon's Seal, and was used, among other things, as a pain killer.

Star of David Cookies in the 17th Century

Rabbi Yair Chayim Bacharach (1639-1702) was a German rabbi, initially in Koblenz and remainder of his life in Worms and Metz… He was the author of Havvot Yair ("Villages of Yair") a collection of responsa where he answered a question about breaking cookies on Saturday, on which there were drawings of Magen David or other images. Right after this question he tells about a habit to write bible verses on cookies and let babies eat them. It is not clear to me if the Magen David cookies were meant for babies but it seems that this emblem was well known among the Jews in Germany in the 17th Century who used to draw it on bakery products like cookies and Matzos.

Masculine Waters And Feminine Waters

Rami Aloni wrote in The Jewish Magazine a splendid clear article about the Star of David that symbolises the interlacing of the masculine waters and the feminine waters. 

There are times when we, the Jewish people, try to initiate a contact to G-d and sometimes, just the opposite, it is G-d trying to arouse us. Like the relationship between a man and a woman, it could be the man who initiates the contact (or stimulation) with the women. In other situations it could be the woman who initiates the contact by arousing the man.

Disney Bauble

Photo of glass Mickey bauble with the star of David is  courtesy of "harrismint" who published it on Flickr and wote to me:

It was taken at a shop in Disney in Anaheim [California]. There was a section of Jewish Disney-related 'Christmas' decorations (all irony fully acknowledged!). It's a tree bauble with Mickey ears.

Permission to Use the Magen David

Photo of a Star of David embroidered on a curtain in the old new synagogue in Prague is courtesy of maxjrosenthal, who published it on Flickr . 
This type of using the Magen David as an ornament on holy objects was one of the most common and prevalent in the last centuries and it penetrated the Orthodox Jewish world without someone stopping to think if at all it was allowable; only recently, in our generation, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895 - 1986) who was the de facto supreme rabbinic authority for Orthodox Jewry of North America, was asked about it and he answered in his book Igros Moshe; (Epistles of Moshe) that is allowable since no body raised this question for the last centuries and no rabbinic authority had forbidden it.

So now orthodox Jews have a permission to use the Magen David. Secular Jews use it without any permission…

Dreams Made Out Of Stone

Until now most of the six-pointed stars I showed on this blog from India were Mogul (Muslim) but this one is a Hindu Star.
Photo is courtesy of "javeja" who published it on Flickr and wrote to me:

I found this in Hampi, Karnataka... Hampi is a very old sacred pilgrimage place: temples that stretch over an 26 square kilometers area... I really ask myself why would they use it in India only for decorative use... I don’t know I think they must have been more behind it... the star symbol on the pillar is very very old from the 14th century... more I don’t know...

Looking for more info about this place I found a very informative article on
www karnataka com; like: 

If dreams were made out of stone, it would be Hampi...
Saint Vidyaranya established the seat of Vijayanagara empire in 1336 C.E.

Hampi is a World Heritage Centre

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.