Wearing a Star by Rabbi Moshe Kempinski

About two years ago a young man walked into our shop in the Old City of Jerusalem. He had come with the Birthright Israel program on his first trip to Israel.

The Birthright Israel Program was created by its founders as a project to send thousands of young Jewish people from across the Diaspora, for a visit, home, to Israel. Their purpose was to strengthen the bond between the Jewish people and their ancestral home, and to cultivate in these young people a spark and linkage with their people. The results have been very encouraging. A spark that was kindled on these trips has become a flame strong enough to warm others.

This young man had never been to Israel before and his eyes reflected the wonderment of discovery. He was amazed at how with one glance he was able to glimpse past present and future, together, in this incredible land. He explained that he was returning to his studies in the University and that he was looking for a silver star of david. He wanted the biggest one I could find for him.

He put it on, almost ceremoniously, smiled and walked into his future.

Two weeks ago he came back for another visit to Israel. He looked at me held his Magen David in his hand and said "Do you remember me?" I told him that I was very happy to see him and asked how his university years had been. He responded that it was getting tougher and tougher to be a Jew in some of these campuses. "But", he said "This Magen David remained outside of my shirt... proudly!" He then told me that he was in Israel for two months to study Judaism in one of the outreach programs in the Old City. The Magen David that had been hanging so proudly on his chest had penetrated into his heart. The Jewish heart
he had been wearing eternally became the inflamed Jewish soul that was burning within.

But he is not alone. The Jewish people are seeing a rennaissance of Jewish commitment and passion that rivals the years
following the re-unification of Jerusalem in 1967. The Jewish people are coming home, both physically and spiritually and that return seems to be spearheaded by the young.

Last week Birthright was back again with thousands of young people. One group was from the midwest of the United States spent a long time in the shop. In the midst of the discussion I asked one of the young women what this trip to Israel "did for her".
She responded, 'that I walk through these streets, I stand in front of the Kotel, and even when I am sitting outside here drinking coffee ... I am overwhelmed with a desire to want to just get up and scream that I am a Jewish woman and I am damn proud of it."

When she finished her words, the room became silent. Everyone then broken into a smile and one of the guys raised a thumbs up, while one of the girls gave her a long hug.

I wiped a tear.

This pendant of a young girl clutching a Star of David is from Artazia- a perfect gift for the young woman (or bat mitzvah girl) in your life who is proud to show the world she is a Jew.

Shabbat Shalom. I hope you enjoyed this star-filled week of Judaica. Next week the forecast is a little damp. See you Monday.

A New Star

I love finding new Judaica artists... especially ones who work in polymer clay. While perusing Etsy I found SandiLee and her beautiful Mica Mogen David. I wrote asking if I could show her piece and she said "YES." Sandi, a west coast resident, is on vacation now... probably well-deserved given she has a full time job, a family to care for and her art to pursue.

Now why don't you go over and check out her other work? Don't forget to tell her I sent you!

Star of David - The History

Much folklore mention the Shield of David, known in Hebrew as Magen David, alleged to have contained a six pointed star or hexagram used by the early Israelite soldier warrior David, who later became Israel's second king. Some theories note that the combinations of two pyramids may have been derived from ancient Egypt, a country that often was connected with ancient Israel, both as an adversary as well as ally. Another theory is that the design was actually the metal framework for David's shield, as many warriors used a stretched hard leather over a wood or metal framework; a practice still in use by some African tribes to this day.
Some folklore says that David's shield, also contained Hebrew words to protect him during warfare. These words included Shadai, which meant Almighty, as well as the names of protective angels. Other legends say that David's son and successor, King Solomon, had a signet ring made with the hexagram symbol which later became known as the 'Seal of Solomon'.
The symbol may also have been by later warriors, including Judas Maccabeus, and Shimeon Bar-Kokhba (Son of the Star) who let a futile revolt against the Roman Empire in the 2nd Century C.E. The symbol also is noted in a mosaic floor design from a synagogue in Capernaum located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. One of the first known written usage of the six pointed hexagram occurred in the 10th Century with the Leningrad Codex, written in the year 1008 CE.
Biblical scholars have written numerous interpretations as to why this symbol became important in Judaism. One of these deals with the Creation, in which God created the world in six days, and rested on the seventh – the seventh being the center. Other scholars interpret the 'star' as being the joining of two triangles, with the upper pointing to the Kingdom of Heaven, and the lower to Mankind's dominion on earth.
The two separate triangles, also resembling the Greek letter 'Delta' also are said to denote two of the Hebrew letters of King David's biblical name. Along with this, the symbolic meaning of the conjoining of the two triangles are said to point to the astrological positions of the stars at the time that David was made king of Israel.
The Star of David and Shield of Solomon also became symbols used by alchemists and others during the Middle Ages. Its use as a dominantly Jewish symbol came later when it was popularized during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Many of you are likely unfamiliar with the webiste ETSY.COM. For me it is the supermarket of handmade AFFORDABLE art and gifts. This Magen David pendant is from one of the artists... NightsWork. It is casual, unique AND less than $50!

Twinkle, Twinkle Paper Star

A few weeks back, I received an email from a fellow blogger. Zeevveez is an Israeli who has three blogs, but the one of great interest to me is Star of David.
There, various Magen Davids are shown. I love the ones that are just found!
Like me, this blogger has a day job and part of his job is developing and marketing these Star of David paper lamps. I can see them hanging in the youth group's lounge or even in a child's room. In Israel, they are often used at weddings. Let me know where you would put yours!