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Chabad.org » Ideas & Beliefs » Questions & Answers » Kabbalah & The Mystical » What is the Mystical Significance of the Star of David?


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What is the Mystical Significance of the Star of David?



The Zohar (vol. III 73a) states, "There are three knots connecting [three entities] one to another: the Holy One, blessed be He; Torah and Israel." The Jewish soul connects to its Creator through the study and observance of Torah. The triangle represents the connection between these three entities.1

The essence of the soul connects with G‑d's essence through the study of the teachings of KabbalahThese three entities are each comprised of a pnimiyut (inner dimension) and a chitzoniyut (external dimension): The Torah is comprised of both exoteric teachings (the Talmud, Jewish law, etc.) as well as esoteric teachings (the Kabbalah). G‑d's "revealed" energy permeates and provides existence to all worlds, but His essence is completely hidden, transcending all of creation. Similarly, the soul (which is a reflection of G‑d2) has a revealed element, that level that expresses itself within and vivifies the body, as well as an essence that transcends the body.

The double triangle of the Star of David (Magen David) symbolizes the connection of both dimensions of G‑d, Torah and Israel: The external level of the soul connects to the external expression of G‑d via studying the exoteric parts of Torah; the essence of the soul connects with G‑d's essence through the study – and application of – the teachings of Kabbalah.


Another explanation:

Kabbalah teaches that G‑d created the world with seven spiritual building blocks—His seven emotional attributes. Accordingly, the entire creation is a reflection of these seven foundational attributes.

They are: Chesed (Kindness), Gevurah (Severity), Tiferet (Harmony), Netzach (Perseverance), Hod (Splendor), Yesod (Foundation) and Malchut (Royalty).

These attributes are divided into three columns: right, center and left:

Gevurah

Tiferet

Chesed

Hod

Yesod

Netzach

 

Malchut

 

Correspondingly, the Star of David contains seven compartments—six peaks protruding from a center.

The upper right wing is Chesed.

The upper left wing is Gevurah.

Correspondingly, the Star contains seven compartments—six peaks protruding from a centerThe upper center peak is Tiferet. Kabbalah teaches that Tiferet finds its source in Ketter, "the Crown," which is infinitely higher than all the divine attributes which are involved in the "mundane" pursuit of creating worlds.

The lower right wing is Netzach.

The lower left wing is Hod.

The center is Yesod. Yesod is "Foundation," and as such all the other attributes are rooted in, and give rise from, this attribute.

The star's bottom that descends from its belly is Malchut—the attribute that absorbs the energies of the higher six attributes and uses them to actually descend and create everything—and "reign" over them.


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FOOTNOTES
1.

The fact that in a triangle each of the three corners are connect to the two other ones demonstrates that the Jewish soul is itself knotted to G‑d. Torah study and observance doesn't create a connection between the Jew and G‑d—it merely brings it to light.

2.

As it is stated in Job (19:26), "From my flesh I can perceive G‑d."


By Naftali Silberberg   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author
Rabbi Naftali Silberberg, a native of Detroit and a scholar renowned for his sharp wit and vast Talmudic knowledge, is on the editorial team of Chabad.org. He resides in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife Chaya Mushka and their three children.

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Oct 14, 2009
Origins
"The origin of the star, on the other hand, still stands with its original holiness, as taught by our Rabbi Naftali Silberberg"

For those interested in the history of the Magen David, there is a book by W. Gunther Plaut,
Posted By Fred, Earth

Posted: Oct 13, 2009
6 directions and sprinkling sacrificial blood
Rabbi, I just read in the chabad siddur for shemini atzeret/simchat torah that the priests first sprinkled the sacrficial blood to the north, then the south, then se, ne, sw, nw (not necessarily in that order). I tried to look up the page number where I read this, but couldn't find it. This seems suspiciously like the shape of the Magen David, and would seem to have a related significance. Could you comment on this?
Posted By Liora, New York, NY

Posted: Sep 22, 2009
Humour
"Yes Chida does write this, but to my knowledge he does not say to the exclusion of the Magen David. "

Maybe he does not even see a reason to comment on such a possibility ;)
Posted By Fred



 


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