Star of David

Star of David is called in Hebrew Magen David, but Magen David has also another meaning: it is the name of one of the Jewish blessings. There are many Congregations and synagogues around the world called "Magen David": for example: in Rockville Maryland, in North Dallas, Texas, in Brooklyn, NY, In Bombay, India, In Israel… I think all these are taking their names from the Magen-David-blessing and not from the Magen-David-symbol. I saw a picture of the Rockville Synagogue but I didn't notice a Magen-David-symbol on the front of the building.

Anyhow I sent a few emails to these Congregations hoping that the identical name of our Stars of David and their name of Congregation will trigger some dialog. My hopes for an answer are low since nowadays people tend to ignore emails from strangers but anyhow - it keeps me busy…  

I found interesting information about Stars of David on "flags of the World"  website:

1. First Star of David flag

Dov Gutterman wrote that in 1354 the Jewish community in Prague put the Star of David on its flag and that's the first recorded appearance of a Star of David on a flag.

2.Druze soldiers' Star of David flag

Dov Gutterman wrote that Druze soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have a flag with a white Magen David on a green triangle.

3. Birobidzhan Jewish Autonomous Region Star of David flag

Muhamed Mesic wrote that one of his friends saw a strange flag hanging from the windows in Birobidzhan, and it includes a Magen David in the center.

4. Proposed Jewish Flag for Sweden

Natan Zlotnik designed a yellow badge on a blue background and expressed his wish to fly it at Jewish holidays.

You can say that the Star of David is just an innocent symbol, but it makes some people react aggressively-which means that it is a powerful symbol...

For example: I read on Aftenposten from 05 Feb 2004 that Teacher Inge Telhaug, who teaches immigrants Norwegian language and culture at the Kristiansand Adulteducation center in Norway, was told to stop wearing around his neck the Star of David, because the principal of that school, Kjell Gislefoss, felt that the Star of David can be interpreted as a political symbol and can offend Palestinian  students.

In  2001 the Jewish community celebrated the restoration of the roof with the golden Star of David of the Moscow Synagogue, which was built in 1779 and after one year Tsar Alexander III ordered to destroy it.