What kind of symbols would you associate with Judaism? The best place to start is in a Synagogue! Look at the curtain covering the cabinet (Aron) where the Torah scrolls are stored. It will often feature motifs of the Two Tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed (often with a lion to either side), the Menorah (candelabra), which was a permanent fixture in the Holy Temple, a crown (Keter), the Star of David, the Burning Bush, and others, often embellished with decorative olive branches or date palms.

On Sephardic Torah scrolls, enclosed in metal cylinder casing, small rattles are placed upon them, called Rimonim, which translates to pomegranates. If you look closely, the shape and design of the rattles are exactly like pomegranates!

Pomegranates are one of the seven species of Israel, as are olives, a prominent symbol in Judaism. The olive leaf is what the dove had clutched between his beak when he returned to Noah’s ark, representing the peace that would come to the world after the great flood.

On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we awaken to the powerful blast of the Shofar, a ram's horn. It is a symbol with so much meaning, from the call of repentance to the courage for battle.

Today’s Judaica features all the above symbols. From Kiddush cups to Challah bread covers, Menorahs to Netilat Yaadayim Handwashing cups, Shofarot and all types of Jewish-themed jewelry, join us as we take you through a fascinating journey behind some of the most important symbols of Judaism today.

In Judaism, the number 18—when spelled out in Hebrew—makes up the word ‘Chai’ which means ‘life.’ It commonly appears as a pendant on necklaces and is worn for protection.

Today, the flag of the State of Israel features the emblem of the Star of David (Magen David). It is the most common symbol that represents one’s Jewish identity and connection with Israel. Yet its connection to the Jewish people isn’t as old as one might think!

"a land of wheat and barley, vines and figs and pomegranates, a land of oil producing olives and honey,"

(Deuteronomy - Chapter 8:8)

And six branches coming out of its sides: three menorah branches from its one side and three menorah branches from its second side.

(Exodus - 25:32)

In the desert, God commanded Moses to build a Mishkan, a temporary structure where God’s presence would dwell, and to produce holy vessels for use in the temple service. Among them was the Menorah, fashioned out of one piece of pure gold, featuring seven branches upon which seven lamps were fitted to hold wicks and pure olive oil to be lit by the high priest.

The Menorah and its lights represent two core Jewish concepts, one that Israel will forever be "a light unto the nations." (Isaiah 42:6) and the two essential parts of being a Jew, carrying out good deeds and studying the Bible and its laws.

While the original Menorah was eventually destroyed, another version originated from the Hanukkah story when Judah Macabee and his brothers defeated the Syrian-Greek occupation of the Holy Land. Arriving at the Temple, they discovered the Menorah had been stolen, so they plunged their spears into the ground to create a makeshift Menorah and found a small vial of oil. They kindled the lights, which miraculously lasted eight days. Today, in commemoration of the miracles of Hanukkah, every Jewish household lights a Menorah, with eight branches called a Hanukiah, to publicize the great miracles that occurred at the time!

While referred to in Hebrew as the Shield of David (Magen David), no other symbol represents the Jewish people and the State of Israel more than this six-pointed star. The Star of David proudly sits in the middle of Israel's flag. ‘Magen David’ refers to God as the one who protects and ‘shields’ the people of David.

Surprisingly, there is no actual Biblical reference to the Star of David. There is, though a reference to King Solomon, the son of David, who had a signet ring in the shape of a hexagram (six-pointed star) designed to help him ward off evil spirits, which is mentioned in a story where Solomon uses the signet to control Ashmedai, the King of the Demons, so that he could find out the location of the Shamir, a precise cutting tool needed to build the Temple.

“like the names of the great ones,” that Jews will say: Shield of David, just as they say: Shield of Avraham.

Pesachim 117b

The star is also connected to Bar Kochva, the leader of the Jewish rebels against the Roman Empire. His name means ‘son of a star,’ and legend has it that his armor featured the star on it. The oldest complete manuscript of the Hebrew Bible, the Leningrad Codex (dated 100 8CE), features a "Star of David" on its front cover.

A beautiful interpretation of the Star of David is the connection between God and Man and Heaven and Earth, as the six-pointed hexagram contains two triangles, one pointing up and the other down. The Star of David is the connection between the two.

Solomon sent for Benayahu, son of Jehoiada, a member of the royal entourage, and gave him a chain onto which a sacred name of God was carved, and a ring onto which a sacred name of God was carved,

Gittin 68a

In Jewish tradition, we don’t say cheers. Instead, we say ‘LeChaim’ - ‘To life’! In Biblical Hebrew, there is a number-based system called Gematria in which we assign a value to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The letters that make up the word life - חי have a value of 10 and 8, together 18 - make up the Hebrew word Chai! For this reason, when Jewish people make charitable donations, they often do so in multiples of 18! One of the most popular pieces of Judaica is the Chai necklace, which many wear to feel protection. In today’s challenging times, the word Chai has become even more significant, especially when used in the common phrase, Am Israeli Chai - The people of Israel live!

The first city the Israelites conquered in Israel was Jericho, also known as ‘The City of Date Palms.’ Such was its abundance that our ancient leader Moses, who was only permitted to view the Holy Land from Mount Nebo, could see them from miles away. These date palms would become one of the main symbols that represent the Land of Israel.

Dates are one of the seven species, and the honey of the Holy Land is of dates. From the Jordan Valley to the Dead Sea, Israel is covered with date palms, and the entire tree is used for physical and religious purposes. On the festival of Sukkot, the date frond, known as the lulav, is gathered with the citron, myrtle, and willow and waved at the daily prayer service — the Lulav representing the spine of a man. The date palm leaves would cover the Sukkah booths where the Jewish people dwell during the festival.

And you shall take for yourselves on the first day, the fruit of the hadar tree, date palm fronds, a branch of a braided tree, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for a seven day period.

Leviticus - 23:40

Throughout the entire history of the Jewish nation, there has never been a sound so powerful and packed with meaning as the Shofar, the Ram’s horn. At Mount Sinai, the mighty blasts accompanied the giving of the Torah and the Ten Commandments to the Jewish people.

It came to pass on the third day when it was morning, that there were thunder claps and lightning flashes, and a thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very powerful blast of a shofar, and the entire nation that was in the camp shuddered.

Exodus - Chapter 19

On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the Shofar was sounded on the 50th year to mark the Jubilee year in the Holy Land.

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, is also the day of Judgment for the Jewish people. The Shofar beckons the call of repentance to change our ways so that God will bless us with another year of life and goodness for us and our families. In the Bible, Rosh Hashanah also goes by another name, The Day of the Shofar Sounding!

And when the Jews finally entered the Promised Land, they approached the fortified city of Jericho. God instructed Joshua to circle the city seven times while carrying the Tabernacle, and the high priests sounded the shofars until the walls of Jericho finally crumbled!

You shall proclaim [with] the shofar blasts, in the seventh month, on the tenth of the month; on the Day of Atonement, you shall sound the shofar throughout your land.

Leviticus 25:9

There are TEN interpretations of the sound of the Shofar, with themes ranging from crowning God as our King to the call of repentance to reminders of the ram that Abraham sacrificed, the destruction of our Temples, and the prayer for its rebuilding. The Shofar is perhaps the most significant symbol in Judaism!

There is a concept called the evil eye, and in the Middle East, especially among Sephardic communities, the Hamsa, often in the form of an amulet, is used to ward off the evil eye. A Hamsa traditionally depicts a symbol of a hand with five fingers. Although, as Jews, we don’t believe in luck, Ben Ish Chai, the 19th-century leader of the Sephardic community in Iraq, spoke about the customs some used to remove the evil eye. People would say the word Hamsa (which in Arabic means the number five), and he also referred to the common practice of wearing an amulet featuring five fingers, with the Hebrew letter “hei” (numeric value of five) inscribed within. This ancient practice is still prevalent in certain communities, whether using amulets or other ornaments. But it is important to note that as Jewish people, we put all our faith in God to change the outcomes!

Across the Holy Land, Jewish symbols, many of them thousands of years old, have been discovered at archeological digs, some dating to Biblical times and others, like the Star of David, from more recent times. Let’s look at some incredible archeological discoveries of Jewish symbols in Israel!

The ancient city of Shiloh was the first location of the Tabernacle, where the high priests would carry out their holy service. In June 2018, archeologist Tim Lopez was sifting at the Tel Shiloh excavation site when he came across a tiny object. Closely inspecting it, he noticed it was hardened and distinctly shaped like a Pomegranate! This ceramic object was discovered next to a wall the team had dated to the same period that the Tabernacle was in use. These explorers were amazed to have found such a small, precious artifact, only 17mm wide, in good shape, and It wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest that this pomegranate may have been used in the Temple itself!

During the Bar Kochba revolt of 132-135AD, Jewish rebels minted their own coins, many featuring motifs of the seven species and the Holy Temple. One discovery revealed a coin featuring olives and olive branches as a decorative border and another of a traditional olive oil jug.

The olive also features on one of the oldest coins to have ever been discovered in the Holy Land and was produced in Jerusalem! In 2018, The Temple Mount Sifting Project, which sifts through tonnes of earth gathered from outside the Old City Walls, discovered three ancient coins, known as Yehud coins, dating to the 4th Century BCE. One features an owl, and on the left is an olive branch and the inscription of ‘Yehud’ - which translates to Judah.

Numerous mosaics have been discovered, depicting Jewish symbols, one in the Galilee village of Huqoq. In 2018, a beautiful mosaic was revealed on the floor of a fifth-century Synagogue depicting the story of the 12 spies Moses sent to scout out the Holy Land. The mosaic clearly shows a cluster of huge grapes being carried by two of the spies along with a Hebrew inscription translating to ‘a pole between two’.

Motifs of the Shofar were discovered in the ancient Golan Heights town of Afek and one in the historical Synagogue of Peki’in. But the most exciting depiction of the Shofar must be the mosaic at the third-century Shalom al Israel Synagogue at Tel Jericho! At its center is a Menorah, then a Shofar on the left, and a Lulav (date frond) on the right, along with the Hebrew inscription that says in Hebrew, “Peace be upon Israel.” How amazing is it that at Tel Jericho, in an ancient Synagogue, lies a motif of the Shofar, the very same ritual object that the priests blew while they circled Jericho thousands of years before in order to conquer it, the very first city in the Holy Land!

Today in Jerusalem, you can see a coin dated around 40 BCE, which features what is considered the oldest known depiction of the Temple Menorah! In a Synagogue in the town of Migal, by the Sea of Galilee, archaeologists uncovered a 2,000-year-old depiction of the Menorah engraved in stone. And down south, at a dig in Beer Sheva, a team of archeologists found a 2,000-year-old lamp sherd with a Menorah of 9 branches, similar to the Hanukiah that we use on Hannukah! The connection between the Menorah and Judaism was confirmed by the discovery of a sixth-century ceramic stamp featuring a Menorah near the coastal town of Akko. It was determined that this was a ‘bread stamp’ used by a Jewish baker to mark his products!

The date palm is a symbol often used to represent the Land of Israel, and archeological evidence confirms it! The mosaic at the Maon Nirim Synagogue, dated to 500CE, features a Judean date palm while a Bar Kochva Era coin discovered during archeological excavations in Jerusalem was inscribed with the word "Jerusalem" and features a date palm in the middle.

Following the destruction of the Second Temple and the occupation of the Holy Land by the Roman Empire, a series of coins commemorating the Roman victory was minted. Among the coins discovered within the Judaea Capta coin collection was one featuring a date palm (representing Israel and Jerusalem) at its center, and to the side of the palm, a Jew and then a Jewess (representing Judea) sat in mourning. This scene depicts the prophecy of Isiah:
“For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen ... Thy men shall fall by the sword and thy mighty in the war. And her gates shall lament and mourn, and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground” (Isaiah 3:8, 25-26).

Over 100 years ago, a small seal was found in Megiddo in northern Israel. Pictured is a lion, in a roaring stance with the words, “Belonging to Shema, the servant of Jeroboam.” Dated to the eighth century, it refers to King Jeroboam ii of Israel. And in Jerusalem, within the Old City is Lion’s Gate, whose facade features carvings of four lions, attesting to the name of this famous gate!

The Holy Land is a treasure trove of artifacts demonstrating how significant these Jewish symbols were. The beautiful mosaic found in what is now the Beit Alpha Kibbutz on an ancient Synaoguge floor, dating over 1500 years, truly captures its essence.

Pictured is a magnificent scene with the Holy Ark at its center, an illuminated Menorah on either side, and symbols integral to Judaism, among them the Shofar, lulav (date palm), etrog (citron), and a shovel for the incense used in the Temple. Which animal is guarding the Ark, which contains the Holy Torah? The majestic lions of Judah!

The lack of an active Temple in Jerusalem today means that Jewish symbols have taken on even more significance than before. Three times a year, on the foot festivals of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, Jewish pilgrims would go up to the Holy Temple to bring offerings to God. Nowadays, they head to the Old City of Jerusalem to celebrate the festivals, not with offerings, but with prayers and symbolic ritual objects, like the four species we gather together and wave during Sukkot.

On Rosh Hashanah (and the end of Yom Kippur), we blow the shofar, which sounds the call of repentance and to strengthen our faith and love for God. At the festive meal, we eat pomegranates and recite a symbolic blessing that our merits should be as numerous as the seeds inside. We also recite a blessing on dates.

Olives are just as relevant today as in Biblical times, their precious oil being used to light candles for Shabbat and Jewish festivals. We don’t have the Temple Menorah anymore. Still, we do have the Hanukiah, which many use pure olive oil to light and commemorate the Hannukah miracle of the vial of olive oil, which lasted eight days! Nothing is as beautiful as roaming the streets of Jerusalem on Hannukkah and seeing the bright, warm glow of the Hanukiahs piercing the dark winter nights!

On Sukkot, we also build temporary booths (Sukkot) to reside in during the festival, covered with date palms, to commemorate how God protected our ancestors when they dwelt in tents in the desert.

Every Shabbat, we recite Kiddush on a cup of wine or grape juice made of grapes just as delectable as they were when the 12 spies brought a cluster of giant, plump grapes back from the Holy Land to Moses from their scouting mission.
Both the Chai symbol and Hamsa have become more widespread across Israel, whether worn as necklaces and charms or design pieces for the kitchen and home.

On the topic of Israel, the most significant Jewish symbol today is the Star of David! Known as ‘Magen David’ in Hebrew and translated to the Shield of David, it is proudly emblazoned on the blue and white flag of the State of Israel!

The connection to Judaism goes back to Europe, where the Star of David was displayed on the communal flags of the Eastern European Jewish communities from the 17th century onwards. It would become the official Jewish symbol of the First Zionist Congress in 1897, and then in 1948, we sadly recognize it through the bright yellow stars that Jews of Germany were forced to wear by the Nazis.

Today, the Star of David appears on official state uniforms, among them of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Israel Air Force (IAF) planes, and people walk around with the Star of David worn around their necks, proud to show their identity and love for the State of Israel!

These symbols connect us to our Biblical past. Even today, when many cities in Israel are booming with skyscrapers and start-ups, all we need to do is look at some Israeli currency, those Shekels and Agarot. Look closely, and you will see engraved on them a palm tree and baskets of dates, a pomegranate, and various fruits and grains, representing some of the seven species and the Temple Menorah!

Add a touch of Israel to your home with this oriental laser-cut metal Hamsa wall decoration by Dorit Judaica. Rather than the traditional Hamsa symbol of five fingers, this Hamsa features an authentic touch of Jerusalem with motifs that represent the holy city, such as the Western Wall, Temple Menorah, and the Tower of David. At the top is the timeless verse from Psalms in Hebrew, “If I forget thee Jerusalem may my right hand forget its skill.” Hang it on your wall or the entrance of your home for all to admire!

Dorit has produced another beautiful piece of wall art, this time a home blessing in the shape of a pomegranate, featuring a brightly colored mandala-style design and a blessing that reads: “May this home be a place of happiness and health, of kindness and hope, blessing and peace.”

Truly honor the spirit of Hanukkah with this stunning class bronze Hanukiah Menorah created by Jerusalem-based Judaica artist Emanuel Yair. Based on traditional designs, this Hanukiah features an elevated central branch (called a shamash) with four branches on either side featuring flower branch motifs. Now, you can also publicize the miracle of the oil on Hanukkah in your own home!

Sanctify Shabbat and the Jewish festivals with Emanuel’s beautiful pomegranate Kiddush cup and saucer set featuring a brightly colored array of pomegranates! From the bold pomegranates to the words of the blessing of the wine printed on the cup, embellish your Kiddush with Israel!

After Kiddush, we bless over the two loaves of Challah bread, which are covered until we recite the blessing. Emanuel’s silk Challah cover featuring a vibrant design of the seven species of the Holy Land is the perfect addition to your Shabbat table!

Dorit Judaica

Emanuel Yair

Get inspired by Jewish history with this rare Jericho Shofar. The Mishan family specializes in producing high-quality Kosher-certified Shofarot, often used by Jewish communities during the festivals when the Shofar is sounded, like Rosh Hashanah. This Shofar was inspired by the ram’s horn used when the Israelites circled the city of Jericho while the priests drew powerful blasts from the Shofar! If you want a truly unique Shofar for your home, look at this incredible lion of Judah handpainted Shofar. Traditionally used by the Yeminite Jewish community, it is tall, narrow, and gently twisted, making it distinctive and easy to blow. The Shofar, which features a stunning handpainted Lion of Judah by Israeli artist Sarit Romano, is a sight to behold, the ultimate piece of Judaica to proudly display in your home!

Avi Mishan

Before we recite the blessings over the Challah bread, we wash our hands using a special cup called a ‘Natla.’ To beautify this tradition, we have chosen a handmade Natla with a pomegranate design by ceramicist Batya Erdstein. It features an authentic ‘earthy’ feel with painted bright red pomegranates around the upper surface of the vessel. You will feel the joy every time you use it!

Batya Erdstein

For those who love Israel and jewelry, look no further than Danon Jewelry’s stunning gold-plated bangle with Star of David pendant. Elegant, simple, and featuring a classic design, this bangle is the perfect accessory for showing your love for Israel while making a statement at the same time!

Danon Jewelry