TORAH PORTION

David Klein Gallery

presents

Why We Fly The Flag

Shabbat Aharey-Kedoshim:
Leviticus 16:1-20:27;
Amos 9:7-15.

0

ur commemora-
He stands in-prayer,
tions this week of
wrapped in a sparkling robe
Yom HaZikaron
of white.
and Yom HaAtzmaut bring
The hems of the white
out Israeli flags like no other
robe are crowned with
time of the year.
broad stripes of blue..."
The flag's six-pointed star,
Frankl's poem was trans-
if associated with King David
lated into Hebrew in 1878,
Ra bbi
and.his kingdom of 3,000
and perhaps the founders
Josep
h Klein of Zionisni knew the poem.
years ago, is far more fable
than fact. Official use of the
Specia I to the A blue-and white flag was
star was first made by the
Jewis h News
raised over the agricultural
heads of the Jewish commu-
village of Rishon Lezion
nities of Prague and Vienna,
in 1885 to celebrate the
spreading from there all over the world. third anniversary of its founding.
Gershom Sholem wrote that later, . Independent of the Rishon Lezion
during the Emancipation, Jews wanted
flag, a blue-and-white flag was raised
a symbol to adorn the walls of their
in 1891 in Boston at the dedication
synagogues, similar to the Christian
of the meeting hall of the Bnai Zion
use of the cross. Thus by the 19th
Educational Society.
century, and the rise of the new politi-
As soon as the State of Israel was
cal Zionism, the Star of David became
established, the question of its flags
universally prominent. Sholem believed and emblems arose. Public opinion
that the Star of David became the
- favored the flag of the Zionist move-
symbol Zionism having attained wide
ment as the state flag, but there was
circulation among Jewish communities some apprehension. In July 1948,
but without evoking clear-cut religious
Mordechai Nimtza-bi cautioned that
associations.
diaspora Jews "would be flying the flag
Theodor Herzl did not have the star
of a foreign country"
in mind when he proposed a Zionist
Thus, Moshe Sharett decided to
emblem or flag. In his diary (June 12,
inquire into diaspora Jewry's thoughts.
1895) he wrote: "The flag that I am
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver replied, "We
thinking of is a white flag with seven
would prefer to leave the Zionist flag
gold stars. The white background
as the national flag of Israel, with a
stands for our new and pure life; the
minimum of changes. We feel that the
seven stars are the seven working
fear of complications as a result of use
hours: We shall enter the Promised
of the flag at Zionist gatherings over-
Land in the sign of work!'
seas has been somewhat exaggerated!'
But influenced by various Zionist
The other Zionist leaders responded
groups, he later accepted the Magen
similarly.
David as the emblem of the movement,
After the fears of "dual loyalty" had
insisting, however, that the six stars
been alleviated, the Provisional Council
should be placed on the six angles of
of State voted unanimously on Oct. 28,
the shield of David, and the seventh
1948 (five months after the state was
above it. Thus, the Shield of David
declared) to adopt the Zionist flag as
became the first emblem of the Zionist that of the State of Israel. ❑
Organization, formally adopted in 1897.
The first person in modern times
Conversations:
who voiced the idea that blue and white
Can you understand why Jews
are the national colors of the Jewish
today could be conflicted with "dual
people, was the Austrian Jewish poet
loyalty" by displaying the Israeli fla
Ludwig August Frankl (1810-1894).
or singing "Hatikvah"? Should any
More than three decades before the
political emblem be disElayed in t
First Zionist Congress, Franld pub-
synago tie?
lished a poem titled Judah's Colors:
"When sublime feelings his heart
Joseph Klein is rabbi of Temple Emantr•l
fill, he is mantled in the colors of his
in Oak Park.
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May 4 • 2006

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