Re: Shield of David
Dr. Hank Citron (hank360@intercall.net)
Wed, 21 Jan 1998 14:13:26 -0500
In effort to give historical origins to Shield or Star of David; it should
be noted that this symbol has little or no Jewish connection until the end
of Eighteenth and the beginning of the Nineteenth Centuries. Prior to that
time the symbol was used widely as a trade mark in England for the
manufacturing of woolen goods and also for some fish products and was not
in anyway associated with Jews, per se. The Biblical and Torah symbol of
the Jewish nation is the menorah which is the official symbol of the State
of Israel. The Star of David only began to be popularly identified with
Jews in the Nineteenth century and its tragic relationship with the Nazis
in our own time. Notwithstanding these recent connections with Jews; it
does not have Torah origins and does not have long historic connections
with our people.
Hank Citron,
Ph.D. in History