First American Consul to Israel

Warder Cresson (1799-1860), was the first American Consul to Israel. He converted to Judaism in 1844 and called himself Michael Boaz Israel ben Abraham.

Cresson wrote an autobiography titled Key of David, which you can read on-line

in APPENDIX J. Mogan David; or the Shield of David under his drawing of a Shield of David He writes:

…and as in this Shield of David is represented the Double Triangle of Fire, Light, and Spirit, united and blended with Body, Soul, and Spirit; yet we see God is EXALTED ABOVE ALL THESE, "BLESSED FOREVER and EVER."

Margaret Starbird

Margaret Starbird wrote a chapter about the hexagram in her book The Woman With the Alabaster Jar (Bear and Co, 1993).
She also wrote an article titled: The Archetypal Mandala of the Star of David.
She interprets the hexagram as "peace on earth".

The Static and the Dynamic Concept

The following paragraph is from a new chapter, The Time Space Correlation, which doesn’t appear on Dr. Asher Eder’s book The Star of David, which was published in 1987 in English in Jerusalem by Rubin Mass Ltd.

35-2. B) Detailed explanations:

1. The static and the dynamic concept.
The straight lines of the figure may mark the universe as perceived by our natural senses and represent the mechanistic concept (as developed by Galileo Newton, and others).
The curved lines mark the universe as space bent in itself and the dynamic principle as developed in modern physics. There, everything is seen in relation to the speed of light as the one constant in nature.
Both views, the mechanistic and the dynamic, are valid and exist side by side, provided that the mechanistic concept is seen within the frame of the overall dynamic principle. (In our daily lives, we can do with the principles of classical mechanic since the speeds, movements, and distances are so minute that they can be considered like zero in comparison to those prevailing in the universe).
The question which principle we like to work with depends on the angle we look at things, and on the purpose we pursue. Perhaps we can compare this with our attitude towards the atomic forces which we can perceive as particles or as waves, and which we can take advantage of in nuclear processes; or, to some degree, towards fire which we can perceive and utilize as heat or as light (in this case, however, due only to their different wave lengths).

35-3. 2. Movement.
Creation, both the first act of creating "something out of nothing", as well as its continuation since then, means to cause motion, i.e. movement - movement towards, and in, atoms, life, and galaxies, be it in the form of physical, chemical or biological processes; or as waves of any kind; or in emotional, intellectual or spiritual processes. Even conceiving an idea for doing something specific is a creation (as e.g. in arts, craftsmanship, fashion, architecture, etc) with its consequent process of working out the details and, finally, giving it material shape and substance.
Line a-b, depicting energy in action, stands for the whole variety of those movements which are bound to work simultaneously in one direction, but it stands as well for any specific movement under consideration.
Even within an apparent chaos or turbulence of movements we can eventually discern a certain order which we conceive, describe, and define as laws - laws of nature as expressed in sciences, or laws of the spirit, as enjoined by the Prophets. This pattern of order before the background of the chaos leads also from the point of science to the conclusion that the creation is not something accidental, a happening at random, but that it is purposeful and aim-orientated. Science discovered indeed what the ancient Hebrew language expressed in the term אל, El (as mentioned above). The hexagram expresses this aspect by its straight lines, foremost in the line a-b which depicts the movements, as well as by its symmetry.
Our limited abilities to perceive and to comprehend the different movements and their interactions find their graphic expression in the line k-l which is a fraction of the line a-b.
In this context, we should remind ourselves that nature does not know geometric patterns like triangles or squares; it operates in circles and other bent lines. With the exception of crystals and honey combs, triangles, squares, and the like, belong to man's world and are an imposition on nature. The impossibility to exactly "square the circle" could remind us of this limitation of ours to rule nature completely, notwithstanding the fact that the value of pi = 3,14 suffices for our daily needs. Thus, also our hexagram is a design of Man - and the Sign of Man as well.
We should also be aware that evolution is brought about by the movements caused by forces in their actions and interactions within a time span, and not by time as such as some evolutionists like to have it (in fact, they only replace the word Creator, or Creating Force, by the word time).

Jewish Restaurant Menu

Picture is courtesy of "hugovk" who published it on Flickr. Pay attention to the two MagenDavids on top of the side lines. If you read the menu you can see that the food in this restaurant is Jewish.

The Space Time Relation

The following paragraph is from a new chapter, The Time Space Correlation, which doesn’t appear on Dr. Asher Eder’s book The Star of David, which was published in 1987 in English in Jerusalem by Rubin Mass Ltd.

The Space Time Relation illustrated with the help of the hexagram

One of our most basic sensations is the awareness of space and time. In fact, the ability to perceive them is a prerogative of us human beings. Yet time is not something self-explanatory. Understanding, calculating and measuring it, as well as its relation to space, posed problems to the human mind throughout history.
We have seen in the previous chapters that the hexagram as a symbol of integration can be applied to all kind of life situations. It allows to demonstrate the various polarities in their respective balance and interaction. It can also serve to illustrate the space time relations and their specific characteristics due to its cosmic character. The following chapters may be helpful to clarify them.
A) Explanation of the graph.
Field I - the triangle a-b-c. It depicts:
Dot a: Beginning; starting point of any action;
first manifestation of the infinite creating power;
or, in our finite world, the starting point of any measured or newly generated action.
In this context, it is worthwhile to note that the Hebrew word אלהים, God, derives from אל (El) which means God, Power, but also means towards. Thus, we can understand it as directing, aim-oriented, purposeful power if seen from the starting point of creation; or as the ultimate aim towards which everything is geared. Complying therewith, the word אלהים, Elohim, has the same numerical value as הטבע, the nature, and describes the Divine aspects of law, rigidity, severity, judgment, etc. (In Hebrew, the words אל (El), and אלהים (Elohim), are not confined to the supernatural but intrinsically appertain also to man's world: the term יש אל די means "it is in the power of my hands", as e.g. in Gen. 31:29, while the word אלהים means also judge, as e.g. in Ps. 82, i.e. the judge who judges according to the Divine Law).
The following chapters A - C remain in the realm of this aspect of the Creator, although to be sure, the aspects of love, grace, mercy, etc, are equally part of the One Godhood. The oneness of the two aspects is brought out in the phrase אל יי ויאר לנו, "[a] power is the LORD, and he enlightens us" (Ps. 118:27).
Modern science leaves God the Creator as the first cause outside its scope. The Newtonian system postulates that bodies under the action of no forces move in straight lines with uniform velocity; and when bodies do not move in this way, their change of motion is ascribed as force.
This definition developed by science does not say who or what set the bodies in motion, supposedly even in straight lines with uniform velocity; rather "forces" appear there as agents which change the presumed uniform motion, whether delaying, accelerating or influencing it otherwise.
Regarding the term straight lines see below chapter D.

Line a - b: movement
any kind of. See chpt B par. 2).
In creation, everything moves due to the constantly active creating force (including the decomposing forces which in fact rearrange worn out things, and which in Indian thought come under the Shiva aspect). - The length of line a-b should not be confused with distances. It depicts energies in action



Line a - c: time
Time is a function of movement. Consequently, the line a-c shares the starting point "a" with the line a-b, as well as its length. Our conception and our measurements of time are always linked to the starting point related to the movement in view. In the following more on this subject.

Line b - c: The movement-time relation
This line indicates the relation between movement and time in our perceivable world as well as in the dynamic subatomic structures with both their time and space aspects (conceivable as particles or waves). Upon them matter is built. The sections c-g (c'-g') and b-m (b'-m') represent these structures, the first one representing their time aspect, and the latter one their space aspect. These two aspects should be understood like the two sides of one coin of which we, due to our limitations, can perceive only one at a time.
In our finite world, and in our daily lives, the line b-c marks the completion, or end, of the observed movement or action.

Field II - the triangle d-e-f:

It depicts our three-dimensional world of length-width-height, i.e. the universe as well as any space unit therein. It results from the creative force-movement-time unit. Field II is secondary but equal to Field I.
The two triangles (Field I and Field II) are interwoven, for they form one unit and can't be separated without destroying the whole.
Similar to the severity-love and wave-particle aspects mentioned above, these two triangles represent the two sides of one and the same reality.
Each triangle depicts graphically also a basic truth of anything created, namely the fact that every existing thing has necessarily a left and right (or up and down) side as well as a middle (connecting) part. While a line may indicate an extension, a triangle may well mark the dimension of a thing.

Numerical Observations

The following is from Dr. Asher Eder’s book The Star of David, which was published in 1987 in English in Jerusalem by Rubin Mass Ltd. The publication here is courtesy of Oren Mass. This version includes corrections and new materials that do not appear on the printed version.

Ps.16:8. In this context, the following mathematical and numerical observations may be of interest. When we write the consecutive numbers next to the points and corners of the hexagram, we get the above graph.

Adding the numbers of any one of the opposing points or corners always gives us the sum 14 (e.g. 1+13=14; 3+11=14; 6+8=14), which is the numerical value of the name ,דוד David (4+6+4).
Summing up, we get 6x14=84.

Adding up the numbers of the six points renders 42 (1+5+12+13+9+2=42, (and so does the addition of the numbers of the six corners (4+8+11+10+6+3=42).
42+42 equals 84, as well.

Adding the two sums of 84+84 equals 168, and this sum divided by 12 (six points + six corners) again gives us 14. Adding to this the number 7 of the middle field gives us 21, which is the numerical value of the Hebrew word eheyeh (1+5+10+5), translated as "I shall be", Exod.3:14.

Moreover, the numerical value of the Hebrew words מגן דוד , Magen David, 93+14=107, equals the numerical value of the Hebrew words "I am the Lord" (anokhi h' , Yod Hey Vav Hey= 81+26=107), as well as the term "Lord God" (adonai Elohim, Yod Hey Vav Hey = 26+81=107). See also Ps.115:9-11.

This may be a mathematical/numerical pointer to the inner meaning of the term מגן דוד, Magen David, or Shield of David.

Israeli Stars and Stripes

Picture is courtesy of "goldberg" who published it on Flickr. Advertisement on a bus stop. 
The Hebrew words under the flag say: "Be Strong And Resolute"

Lauren Gelfond wrote in 2003 a nice article titled Star Light, Star Bright, where she tells about the exaggerated reactions of people to the Magen David. Among other things she says:

Online, a writer argues that: “Those two blue stripes on the Israeli flag represent the Nile River in Egypt and the Euphrates in Iraq. With the so-called David star in the middle, the message is: The land between these two rivers belongs to the Jews."