The Star Of David
Two Triangles, One Truth
The Star of David is a six-pointed star formed by two interlocking triangles, and it's one of the most recognized symbols of the Jewish faith. In Jewish tradition, it represents the relationship between the Divine and humanity — one triangle reaching upward toward the Divine, the other extending downward toward the earthly and human. Together they signify connection, protection, and unity.
Over centuries, the symbol grew beyond its original meaning to become a marker of Jewish identity, community, and resilience — carried through generations, through persecution, and into the present day as a proud emblem of the Jewish people.
The History Behind the Symbol
In Hebrew, the Star of David is actually called the Magen David — the "Shield of David." That phrase appears as far back as the Babylonian Talmud, though there it wasn't used as a symbol at all, but as a poetic name for God (Pesachim 117b). A related legend holds that the six-pointed emblem once decorated the shields of King David's army. Centuries later, Rabbi Akiva chose the same star as the symbol of Bar Kochba's revolt against the Roman Emperor Hadrian — fittingly, since "Bar Kochba" itself means "son of the star."
Despite these ancient threads, the Star of David didn't become a distinctly Jewish symbol until the mid-14th century, when Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV granted the Jewish community of Prague the right to carry their own flag. They chose the six-pointed star. From Prague, its use as an official Jewish emblem spread outward — and only afterward did the search begin to trace its roots back to the House of David itself.
What the Symbol Teaches Us
By developing a new belief in the goodness and givingness of life, each of us can manifest a new way of being in the world — greater happiness, harmony, prosperity, anything we can imagine. Consciously using the Law of Mind toward these ends, we contribute something positive into the collective belief system of all humankind, setting an intention of higher good for all.
Explore more of the sacred symbols that inspire our community, or join us at CSL NOCO to experience these teachings in practice.