The Yellow Star

The History of the Yellow Star

A few years ago, I received an email from a young girl in the Netherlands, whose father was a Rabbi, asking about the history of the Yellow Star that the Jews were forced to wear during the Shoah. It is perhaps curious to note, that while many know that such a star was worn, few understand the history or significance of the star, or other symbols like it which have been used across the centuries.

The Yellow Star (Mogen David¹ is in the form of a six-pointed star comprised of opposing triangles. The actual icon of the star, often referred to popularly as the 'jewish star' occurred in patterns and designs in Babylon and Medo-Persia before its wide use in Jewish community and history. In its pre-hebrew use, the star is thought to have served some religious/occultic purposes, although others contend it was merely a salient design. The star's suspected wider introduction into Jewish culture is thought to date from the time of David and Solomon, referred to as the Shield of David, and may have been introduced by the inculcation of the many religions and practises brought in by the 1000 wives and concubines of Solomon. It eventually became known as a totally Jewish Symbol, used to symbolize the Nation, the People and the Faith. It is equivalent in use to the Jew as is the Cross of Christianity or the Crescent in Islam. Its "official" use to designate the State or Nation of Israel and the flag thereof is relatively recent: the adoption of the Mogen David dates from the end of the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s, when thoses belonging to International Jewish organizations sanctioned the popular symbol officially. This was of course before Israel was a Nation again.

"Marking" the Jews

The idea of targeting or scapegoating Jewish people by marking them in some way is known in modern times as having occurred mostly in the holocaust, but practises such as this have happened throughout history. During the times of the Spanish Inquisition and Medieval times, Jews in some European provinces were made to wear identifying hats, armbands, or other periphernalia indicating their Jewishness. While somewhat milder, the effect was the same: ostracism, labeling, humiliation and punishment. Catholics and Muslims often instigated these practices contrary to their own teachings. ³

During the Shoah, the wearing of the star was not readily accepted initially by the Jewish Citizens of Germany or their neighbors. The Jews complied because of the dire consequences of non-compliance: shooting or imprisonment. In some communities, neighbors appalled by this treatment of their Jewish friends, wore a star voluntarily to show their protest. Some in Holland, wore yellow tulips as a form of civil disobedience, in defense of their Jewish neighbors. There is a wonderful story of King Christian X of Denmark standing in league with the Jewish Citizens of Denmark, wearing a yellow star as he rode on his morning ride through the streets of Copenhagen. When the Nazis put their flag up, the King ordered it taken down. The Nazis threatened to shoot whoever took it down,and the King replied, "it will be a Danish Soldier who takes it down" {referring to himself]. The flag was removed. Later, King Christian X some report requested all of his subjects to wear the yellow star if the Jews were required to. He remarked, "If you wished to hide a star, where would you hide it?" The answer, of course was among the stars. While some claim this is legend and that the wearing of the star was not commanded in all Denmark, it shows the heart of many non-Jewish people of Europe to stand with thier Jewish friends and compatriots. A beautiful children's story, is based on this legend. [ by Ms. Agra Deedy, "The Yellow Star"]

What the Nazis meant for a sign of degradation and targeting, became a work of mystery: the nation of the Jews, dispersed from Israel since the end of the first century, were soon to return to their homeland after 2000 years in an exile Babylon could never match: what was meant for their humiliation was in fact an affirmation of the millions of Jewish Souls still alive and still a nation across the world, but particularly in Europe. IT was truly a mark of God's Glory, and not the defeat the Nazis had intended.

¹Encyclopaedia of Symbols
²