Simchat Torah flag created in Israel in the period after the Six Day War in 1967.
In the middle of the flag is the symbol of the IDF, the sword with an olive branch, while on each of the leaves is a picture of one of the heroes of the Six Day War: Moshe Dayan, Yitzhak Rabin, Ariel Sharon, Haim Bar Lev, and Motti Hod. In the background is the Kotel and the walls of the Old City. On the left are illustrations of soldiers in red berets and a man wrapped in a talit (prayer shawl) carrying Torah scrolls. A squadron of planes in the shape of the Magen David (Star of David) flies in the sky, while the symbol of the Tanks Corps is embossed on the top of the flag. At the base of the flag is written: "Rejoice and be happy in the joy of Torah (Simchat Torah)." The entire flag is covered with shiny, gold dust.
After the Six Day War, there was an atmosphere of victory in Israel and among Jewish communities worldwide. The flag shows a variety of symbols that represent the strength of the army and the heroes responsible for victory. The five people who appear on the flag all held important positions in the war: Moshe Dayan was the minister of defence, Yitzhak Rabin was the IDF chief of staff, and Ariel Sharon, Haim Bar Lev, and Motti Hod were all senior commanders in the IDF. The soldiers with the red berets symbolise the paratroopers who played an important role in the liberation of the Kotel and the Old City. There are also symbols and images representing different IDF forces that took part in the war: the Tank Corps, the Infantry, and the Air Force. The image of the Kotel also hints at the reunification of Jerusalem, which is considered one of the major victory of the war.
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Six Day War - Since May 1967 there had been tension along the borders of Israel. Egypt moved troops into Sinai and unilaterally closed the Straits of Tiran, which blocked off Israel’s supply route with Asia. Likewise, Syria deployed troops in the Golan Heights. After months of threats and aggression, the Israeli cabinet approved a pre-emptive attack on Egypt. On June 5, 1967, Israel’s air force bombed Egyptian airfields and destroyed their entire fleet of airplanes while still on the ground. The Syrian, Jordanian, and Iraqi air forces were also attacked, and over the next few days battles took place on the Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian fronts. On June 6 fighting began in the divided city of Jerusalem at Ammunition Hill. The Old City of Jerusalem was liberated the following day, June 7, by forces led by Colonel Motta Gur who radioed the message: “The Temple Mount is in our hands and our forces are by the [Western] Wall.” At the Western Wall, the IDF chaplain, Rabbi Shlomo Goren, blew a shofar to celebrate the event, which was broadcast live on Kol Yisrael, the Israeli radio station. The fighting was over after six days. Despite the many casualties, there was also a sense of euphoria. Jerusalem was reunified, and Israel had captured the Golan Heights and the Sinai Peninsula along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip. While much has changed in the area in the ensuing years, the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Golan Heights (Israel disengaged from the Gaza Strip in 2005) remains a matter of controversy both in Israel and around the world.
