Emblem of Israel
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{{Infobox coat of arms
|color = #0038B8
|name = Emblem of Israel
|image = Emblem of Israel.svg
|image_width = 200
|armiger = {{flag|Israel}}
|year_adopted = {{start date and age|df=yes|1949|2|10}}
|motto = {{Script/Hebrew|ישראל}} (Israel)
|parts=Menorah, olive branches}}
The emblem of Israel ({{langx|he|סמל מדינת ישראל|Sēmel Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl}}) depicts a temple menorah surrounded by an olive branch on each side, with the word Israel written in Hebrew ({{nobold|ישראל}}) 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
Image:Arch of Titus Menorah.png, as depicted on the Arch of Titus.|alt=]]
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'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.{{cite web |url=http://www.dinosoria.com/israel_naissance.html |title=Israel. Naissance d'un Etat. En Images. Dinosoria |publisher=Dinosoria.com |access-date=2013-11-24 |archive-date=2013-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202225403/http://www.dinosoria.com/israel_naissance.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://israelforeignaffairs.com/2015/10/the-flag-and-the-emblem/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617081928/https://israelforeignaffairs.com/2015/10/the-flag-and-the-emblem/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-06-17 |title=Emblem of Israel}} The emblem was officially adopted on February 10, 1949.[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-what-are-the-weird-scribbles-on-israel-s-emblem-1.5379348 What Are the Weird Scribbles on the State of Israel's Emblem?], Haaretz
Symbolism
The image used on the emblem is based on a depiction of the menorah on the Arch of Titus. The menorah was used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem and has been a symbol of Judaism since ancient times. It symbolizes universal enlightenment, based on what is written in Isaiah 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. [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/emblem.html]. 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 of the president of Israel
File:Mossad seal.svg|Seal of Mossad displays the Menorah from the emblem
File:Israeli Passport.svg|Emblem as coat of arms on Israeli passport
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 (2007)
See also
{{portal|Israel|Heraldry}}
References
External links
- [http://www.shamir-brothers.com/index.asp?id=6.0.0.html#.UwtQ6vl_vyA/State of Israel Emblem page in Shamir Brothers works collection web-site – Designers of the emblem in 1949]
- {{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/israelat50/pages/the%20flag%20and%20the%20emblem.aspx|title=The Flag and the Emblem |access-date=2017-03-28 |author=Alec Mishory |date=2003-04-28 |publisher=Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs |language=en }}
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{{Coats of arms of Asia}}