Jewish symbols – Star of David, menorah, chai and hamsa
Some Jewish symbols come straight from the Torah, like the Temple menorah; others, like the Star of David or the hamsa, grew out of history and folk custom. We say which is which.
- Star of David מָגֵן דָּוִד
What the Star of David means, whether it appears in the Bible or the Talmud, how the six-pointed star became the Jewish symbol, and its status in Jewish law.
- Menorah מְנוֹרָה
The seven-branched menorah of the Temple and the eight-branched Hanukkah menorah (hanukkiah): Torah sources, why we may not copy the Temple menorah, and customs.
- Chai (חי) חַי
Chai means “alive”. Why the letters ח and י are a popular Jewish symbol, why gifts are given in multiples of 18, and what L’chaim means.
- Hamsa and the evil eye חַמְסָה
What the hamsa hand is, what Chazal say about the evil eye (ayin hara), whether a hamsa is a Jewish obligation, and how tradition says to deal with envy.
For learning and general information only. Customs differ between communities; for practical halachic questions ask your rabbi.