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Theemblem of Israel (Hebrew:סמל מדינת ישראל,romanized: Sēmel Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl) depicts atemple menorah surrounded by anolive branch on each side, with the wordIsrael written inHebrew (ישראל) below it. While it is commonly displayed inblue and white, the emblem has appeared in alternative colour combinations depending on the use, such as on theIsraeli Presidential Standard (see below).
The State of Israel adopted the symbol after a design competition held in 1948. The design is based on the winning entry submitted byGabriel and Maxim Shamir's proposal, with elements taken from other submissions, including entries from Oteh Walisch, W. Struski, Itamar David, Yerachmiel Schechter, andWillie Wind, whose entry won the first design competition.[1][2] The emblem was officially adopted on February 10, 1949.[3]
Symbolism
The image used on the emblem is based on a depiction of themenorah on theArch of Titus. The menorah was used in the ancientTemple in Jerusalem and has been a symbol ofJudaism since ancient times. It symbolizes universal enlightenment, based on what is written inIsaiah 60: "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn".
According to Allon Gal,
The menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), described in the Bible as a prominent feature of the Tabernacle erected by the People of Israel in the wilderness, as well as in the Jerusalem Temple, had for centuries served as a Jewish symbol in synagogues, and had been historically used as an emblem by a variety of Zionist organisations and associations. Eventually, it was adopted as the symbol of the State of Israel. Significantly, the design of the menorah, now flanked by two olive branches symbolising both peace and prosperity, is based on the representation on the Arch-of-Titus; this adoption expresses the idea of Judaea Resurrecta – the restoration of Jewish sovereignty, about 2000 years after the last Hasmonean prince used the same symbol on his coins (Strauss 1972). At the same time, the menorah is also the symbol of light, a motif conspicuous in some major Zionist and Israeli historical ethno-symbols.[4]
The emblem may also be based on the vision of the biblical prophetZechariah, chapter 4, where he describes seeing a menorah flanked by two olive trees, one on each side.[5]
Usage
The following gallery shows various contexts in which the emblem is used:
