Star of David
The Star of David (Shield of David) is the symbol that is most commonly associated with Judaism today, but it is a pretty new symbol. The Star of David is a six-pointed star made up of two triangles on top of each other. There are many ideas about the symbolic meaning of the Star of David. Some people thought that the six points represented God's absolute rule over the universe in all six directions: north, south, east, west, up and down. They also believed that the triangles represented humanity’s dual nature, good and evil, and that the star could be used as protection against evil spirits. Most people believe the symbol is associated with King David as his shield took the shape of it when he fought King Nimrod but this is only one of many stories and the origins of the Star of David are still unclear.
Menorah
One of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith is the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple of Jerusalem. It is a candelabrum with seven candle holders displayed in Jewish synagogues. It symbolises the burning bush as seen by Moses on Mount Sinai.
Chai
Chai is a Hebrew word and symbol that means “life.” It is spelled with the Hebrew letters Het and Yud. Jews will often wear a Chai on a necklace.
There are many more unique sacred symbols in Judaism such as:
- Mezuzah
- Shofar
- Tzitzit and Tallit
- Tefillin
- Yarmulke
- Hamesh Hand