This is the emblem of the State of Israel. The emblem is designed in the shape of a shield with a light blue background. The emblem depicts a seven-branched menorah in between two vertical olive branches. The olive branch is a symbol of peace and is mentioned in the story of Noah and the flood from the book of Genesis. Olives were also the source of the oil that was used to light the menorah in the temple. Beneath the menorah is the word “Israel” written in Hebrew.
The emblem, designed by brothers Gavriel and Maxim Shamir, was submitted in response to a request from the interim provisional government of the new State of Israel for citizens to suggest designs. The government requested that the emblem be coloured sky blue and white and that it featured a seven-branched candelabra (menorah) and seven stars. They allowed for artistic creativity and said that additional colours would be accepted and any other ideas or suggestions would be welcome. The original deadline for submissions was June 14, 1948. A total of 450 proposals were submitted by 164 applicants, but none were chosen. After another invitation to submit entries, the Shamir brothers submitted a design which was accepted after several adaptations were made. The menorah, which is a symbol of the Temple in Jerusalem, was designed according to the depiction on the Arch of Titus in Rome.
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The Arch of Titus - The Arch of Titus has stood for almost 2,000 years as a sign that Rome destroyed the epicentre of both religious and political life for the Jewish People and started the era of exile. The most famous drawing on the arch features Jewish slaves transporting the Menorah to Rome as a symbol of the Romans’ total victory. Tradition dictated that the Jews of Rome would avoid going under the arch; on the day that the State of Israel was established, they marched under the arch. This time, however, they marched in the opposite direction, carrying Torah scrolls and Israeli flags.
Menorah –The menorah is a seven-branched candelabra that was used in the tabernacle (mishkan) in the desert and the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Its design is described in the book of Exodus (chapter 25:31-40) and later appears in the prophet Zechariah’s vision (Zechariah 4:2-3). According to the Torah, the menorah was lit every day by the kohanim (priests) in the Temple. The prophets used the symbol of the menorah to represent Judaism’s role of being a light unto the nations. The menorah is one of the earliest Jewish symbols and appears in many contexts such as Jewish buildings, art, books, and tombstones. It is the main symbol on the emblem of the State of Israel. In synagogues, the Ner Tamid (Eternal Light) that hangs over the ark serves as a reminder of the menorah that was always kept alight in the Temple.
