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Real questions, submitted by actual OU Torah followers, with their real answers. NOTE: For questions of practical halacha, please consult your own rabbi for guidance.

Q. What is the meaning of the Star of David? Does each of the six points on the Star of David have significance? I heard the points represent east, west, north, south, heaven and earth so that everybody from all walks of life is covered. Is that true?

A. Thanks for your question. The "star of David" is an ancient symbol whose exact origins are unknown. While widely accepted as a symbol for Judaism, or for the Jewish people, it has no inherent religious significance. Any significance attributed to it is likely to be an explanation after the fact rather than an actual thought process in its design.

The thought you shared is a nice idea but I strongly suspect that it's a modern take. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (d. 1986), however, expressed a similar thought. In Hebrew, a star of David is called a "magen David" - a shield of David. Rabbi Feinstein said that the shape reminds us that God is our shield; He protects us from all directions, including above and below. He continues that the connection to David is tenuous but perhaps David relied upon this idea to give himself courage in battle. (Source: Iggros Moshe Orach Chaim III, 15)

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