The Emblem of Israel ( he, סמל מדינת ישראל, Sēmel Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ar, شعار دولة إسرائيل, translit=Shiʾeer Dawlat ʾIsrāʾīl) depicts a

temple menorah The menorah (; he, מְנוֹרָה ''mənōrā'', ) is a seven-branched candelabrum that is described in the Hebrew Bible as having been used in the Tabernacle and in the Temple in Jerusalem. Since antiquity, it has served as a symbol of the ...

surrounded by an

olive branch The olive branch is a symbol of peace and victory associated with customs of ancient Greece and connected with supplication to gods and persons in power. It is found in most cultures of the Mediterranean basin and became associated with peace ...

on each side, with the word ''

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

'' written in

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

() below it. While it is commonly displayed in blue and white, the emblem has appeared in alternative colour combinations depending on the use, such as on the Israeli Presidential Standard (see below).

History

The State of Israel adopted the symbol after a design competition held in 1948. The design is based on the winning entry submitted by

Gabriel and Maxim Shamir Gabriel Shamir (1909-1992) and Maxim Shamir (1910-1990) were Israeli graphic designers. They designed Israel's official state emblems, medals, stamps and currency notes. Biography Guttel (Gabriel) and Maxim Sheftelowitz (later Shamir) were bor ...

's proposal, with elements taken from other submissions, including entries from Oteh Walisch, W. Struski, Itamar David, Yerachmiel Schechter, and Willie Wind, whose entry won the first design competition. The emblem was officially adopted on February 10, 1949.What Are the Weird Scribbles on the State of Israel's Emblem?

Haaretz ''Haaretz'' ( , originally ''Ḥadshot Haaretz'' – , ) is an Israeli newspaper. It was founded in 1918, making it the longest running newspaper currently in print in Israel, and is now published in both Hebrew and English in the Berliner f ...

Symbolism

The image used on the emblem is based on a depiction of the menorah on the

Arch of Titus The Arch of Titus ( it, Arco di Tito; la, Arcus Titi) is a 1st-century AD honorific arch, located on the Via Sacra, Rome, just to the south-east of the Roman Forum. It was constructed in 81 AD by the Roman emperor, Emperor Domitian shortly aft ...

. The menorah was used in the ancient

Temple in Jerusalem The Temple in Jerusalem, or alternatively the Holy Temple (; , ), refers to the two now-destroyed religious structures that served as the central places of worship for Israelites and Jews on the modern-day Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusa ...

and has been a symbol of

Judaism Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...

since ancient times. It symbolizes universal enlightenment, based on what is written in

Isaiah Isaiah ( or ; he, , ''Yəšaʿyāhū'', "God is Salvation"), also known as Isaias, was the 8th-century BC Israelite prophet after whom the Book of Isaiah is named. Within the text of the Book of Isaiah, Isaiah himself is referred to as "the ...

60: "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn". The emblem may also be based on the vision of the biblical prophet Zechariah, chapter 4, where he describes seeing a menorah flanked by two olive trees, one on each side.Mishory, Alec. ''The Israeli Emblem''. Jewish Virtual Library

American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. Accessed 9 Jul. 2012.

Usage

The following gallery shows various contexts in which the emblem is used: File:Flag of Israel President.svg, Standard (flag), Standard of the

President of Israel The president of the State of Israel ( he, נְשִׂיא מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, Nesi Medinat Yisra'el, or he, נְשִׂיא הַמְדִינָה, Nesi HaMedina, President of the State) is the head of state of Israel. The posi ...

File:Mossad seal.svg, Seal of

Mossad Mossad ( , ), ; ar, الموساد, al-Mōsād, ; , short for ( he, המוסד למודיעין ולתפקידים מיוחדים, links=no), meaning 'Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations'. is the national intelligence agency ...

displays the Menorah from the emblem File:Biometric passport of Israel.jpg, Emblem as coat of arms on

Israeli passport The Israeli passport ( he, דַּרְכּוֹן יִשְׂרְאֵלִי, ''Darkon Yisre'eli''; ar, جواز سفر إسرائيلي) is a passport issued to Israeli citizens to enable them to travel outside Israel, and entitles the bearer to th ...

File:Stamp of Israel - Seventh Independence Day.jpg, Independence Day stamp with emblem and inscription "Memorial Day for the Fighters for Independence" (1955) File:Israel-Independence-Day-Flags-2007.jpg, Flag and emblem of Israel banners decorate a house on

Israel Independence Day Independence Day ( he, יום העצמאות ''Yom Ha'atzmaut'', lit. "Day of Independence") is the national day of Israel, commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. The day is marked by official and unofficial ceremonies ...

(2007)

References

External links

of Israel Emblem page in Shamir Brothers works collection web-site - Designers of the emblem in 1949
* * {{Coats of arms of Asia

National symbols of Israel

History

Symbolism

Usage

See also

References

External links