CCAR RESPONSA
American Reform Responsa
22. Israeli Flag on a Synagogue Pulpit
(1977)QUESTION: Should an Israeli flag be displayed on the pulpit of an American Reform synagogue? In this case, an American flag is already so displayed. (Rabbi R. Goldman, Chattanooga, Tennessee)
ANSWER: The six-pointed Star of David is now commonly recognized as a symbol of Jews and Judaism throughout the world, both by ourselves and by our non-Jewish neighbors. There is no clear distinction between Jews and Judaism, between our religious and our national aspirations.
Since the Babylonian diaspora, our prayers have constantly contained petitions for the return to Zion and the re-establishment of Israel. In the traditional Shabbat morning Torah service, we find in addition a prayer (a) for the academies in Israel, Babylonia, and the Diaspora, (b) for the local congregation, and (c) for the Gentile government under which we live (Abudarham, 47b; Machzor Vitry; Rokeach). These prayers have been part of the service either since the Talmudic period or, at the latest, since the 14th century. In other words, the service has for a long time contained side-by-side prayers expressing the desire for a return to the Land of Israel, gratitude for the land in which we live, and hope for the welfare of our own communities. The flags of the United States and Israel on a pulpit might be said to symbolize the prayers which have always been said in the synagogue. For this reason, there is no religious objection to placing an American flag on the pulpit, nor to placing an Israeli flag alongside it. (Of course there are specific secular regulations about the placement of such flags which should be followed.) It might be helpful to look at the historical background, especially as there is no ancient record of a Jewish flag or symbol for the entire people of Israel.
The six-pointed star was rarely used by the early Jewish community. It is found carved on a stone in the Capernaum synagogue and also on a single tombstone in Tarentum, Italy, which dates from the third century. Later Kabbalists used it, probably borrowing it from the Templars (Ludwig Blau, “Magen David,” Jewish Encyclopedia, vol. 8, p. 252). It is also found in some non-Kabbalistic medieval manuscripts. None of these usages, however, was widespread.
The first time a Jewish flag is mentioned was during the rule of Charles IV of Hungary, who prescribed in 1354 that the Jews of Prague use a red flag with David’s and Solomon’s seal. Also, in the 15th century, the Jews of that city met King Matthias with a red flag containing two golden six-pointed stars and two five-pointed stars. Aside from this, we have no record of the use of a flag by any Jewish community, and, of course, the six-pointed star now so commonly used was rarely used as a Jewish symbol before the late 18th century and early l9th century. In that period, the newly emancipated Jewish community wished to possess an easily recognizable symbol akin to that of Christianity and so adopted the six-pointed star, which was then used frequently on books, synagogues, cemeteries, tombstones, etc. The star soon became recognized as a sign of Judaism. In 1799 it was already used in anti-Semitic literature. In 1822, the Rothschilds utilized it for their coat of arms, and it was adopted by the Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897 as its symbol. Subsequently, the State of Israel has used it in its national flag, although the official symbol of Israel is the Menora. Naturally, all of us also remember that the Nazis used the six-pointed star on their badges which identified Jews.
If you wish detailed information about this material see M. Gruenewald, “Ein altes Symbol…,” Jahrbuch fuer juedische Literatur, 1901, pp. 120ff; L. Blau, “Magen David,” Jewish Encyclopedia, vol. 8, pp. 25f; and G. Scholem, “Magen David,” Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 11, pp. 687ff.
Various synagogues have found other solutions to the desire for honoring both the United States and Israel. Thus, some have placed both flags in the foyer of the community hall, but have no flags on their pulpits. In any case, both the loyalty of our communities to the United States and our common concern for Israel are clear with or without the placement or possession of flags.
Walter Jacob, Chairman
Stephen M. Passamaneck
W. Gunther Plaut
Harry A. Roth
Herman E. Schaalman
Bernard Zlotowitz
If needed, please consult Abbreviations used in CCAR Responsa.