Star of David Symbol

Also known as the Shield of David (or Magen David in Hebrew), this Star of David symbol originated in ancient Jewish tradition. History books record that the earliest uses of this symbol were seen in the form of a hexagram or the joining together of two equilateral triangles. Records say that hexagrams were used as decorative motifs in synagogues as far back as the 3rd to 4th century. A Shield of David symbol was also noted on a Jewish tombstone, dating as far back as the third century CE.

It has been primarily used as symbols of the Jewish religion—many Jews wear Star of David pendants or jewelry and even the flag of Israel has a blue Star of David at the center. But this symbol does have a deeper mystical meaning. Some believe that the six points of the star represent God’s rule over the universe in all directions: north, south, east, west, up and down. Others believe that the two triangles, which point in opposite directions, are symbols of the duality of human nature or the relationship between God and man.

Chai Symbol

One of the most well-known symbols of Judaism, Chai is a Hebrew word that means ‘life’ or ‘living’. The word is spelled with two Hebrew letters – ‘Chet’ and ‘yud’. Traditionally, every Hebrew letter has been assigned a numerical value. ‘Chet’ has been given the number 8 and ‘Yud’ has got a value of 10. Together, they make 18, which has become the number of Chai.

The Jewish culture has always placed a special focus on life; loving and celebrating life has been an integral part of Judaism. As such, the word Chai holds a lot of significance for the Jews and it has come to symbolize the value of life and hope that sustains it. It also represents the personal will to live and is a reminder to the Jews to live and protect life.“Le-Chaim”, meaning ‘to life’ is a popular Jewish toast that is said at celebratory occasions to welcome all the good things that are anticipated in the coming times. The word Chai also features in another oft-repeated Jewish phrase “am Yisrael chai”, which means “the people of Israel live” and is a sort of prayer for the survival of the Jews for long into the future.

This gorgeous Am Yisrael Chai necklace with a star of David is a powerful symbol for those who love to show pride in their Jewish faith. The phrase Am Yisrael Chai translates as the nation of Israel lives. The pendant is finely crafted to showcase the beauty and meaning of these Hebrew words.