Star of David

[Raichu Mistress]

Not really sure if this goes in the debate forum, but I was just curious about what the Star of David symbolizes for the Jews? It looks like the star the wisemen followed when Jesus was born, but it's a completely Jewish symbol... This has always baffled me...thanks for any answers.

 

[Minty Electronica]

If I recall correctly (and I'll probably shoot myself if I'm wrong), the Star of David symbolized one of the first kings of Israel, King David. (Well, obviously.) Put simply, it has been used as a symbol of protection for the Jews for centuries, much like the pentagram is a symbol of protection for the Wiccans.

 

[Raichu Mistress]

Oooohhhh ok, that makes sense. ^_^ I think Joseph or Mary was a decendent of David, also, so thanks for your answer.

 

[Barb]

This comes from The Jewish Encyclopedia: "The Jewish view of God, which permitted no images of Him, was and still is opposed to the acceptance of any symbols, and neither the Bible nor the Talmud recognizes their existence. It is noteworthy, however, that the shield (star) of David is not mentioned in rabbinical literature."

An author noted that the sign of the Gnostics [an ancient religious group] consisted of a "six-sided star, composed of the male and female triangles intertwined, just as the real public [areas] of the man and woman would also form this six-sided star during coition." --Sex and Sex Worship by O.A. Wall, page 522.

Of course, it would be difficult to establish unequivocally a direct link between that use as oriented around sex worship and modern uses of the same symbol. Rabbi Morris N. Kertzer wrote: "The star has no ancient Jewish origin or religious meaning. It became a popular symbol in Jewish life about three hundred years ago in Central Europe." --What is a Jew?, pages 128-29.