HISTORICALLY
Compared to the Menorah, the “Star of David” is relatively new as a Jewish symbol. In 1354, King Charles IV granted Prague’s Jews the right to bear a "King David flag," and Amsterdam’s Jews incorporated into their seal in 1671. It graced the Rothschild coat of arms when knighted by the Austrian emperor in 1822, and Heinrich Heine signed his Augsburger Zeitung reports from Paris in 1840 with a Magen David, underlining his Jewish identification despite his conversion.

Some suggest that this hexagram originally marked the shields of King David’s soldiers, but the Haftorah’s "Blessed are you O G-d, Shield of David," expresses it as a Divine protective Shield, crediting G-d, rather than our own might and prowess, for success.

Others explain that the Kingdom of David, whose yartzeit we mark on Shavouth, unified Israel’s 12 tribes represented by the Magen David’s twelve diagonals.

Closer to home, the stars above the Eagle's head on a US dollar bill form a six point Star; turn the Eagle around and there is a Menorah configuration. This was George Washington’s expression of gratitude to Hyam Salomon and the Jews who provided funds to the desperate American soldiers freezing at Valley Forge.

HERE AND NOW
During the Holocaust, the Nazis revived the Medieval “badge of shame,” forcing Jews to wear a yellow star marked “Jude.” Sitting in the very eye of threatening global storms, Israel today proudly wears the Magen David on its flag.

From synagogues to necklaces to tombstones, the Star of David is now used as a prominent Jewish symbol. The "Red Star of David" on Israeli ambulances was recently semi recognized after pressure and lobbying as an equivalent to the Red Cross and Crescent.

DIFFERENT ANGLES
Geometrically, the Magen David points to G-d in all six directions: North, South, East, West, Up and Down. Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic domes demonstrate triangular power, while the Magen David’s configuration radiates spiritual energy. Its six points draw from its inner spiritual center, just as Shabbat, the seventh day, gives balance and perspective to the six weekdays.

UP AND DOWN
Relevant to our receiving the Torah on Shavout at Mount Sina, the Magen David’s two main triangles represent the two reciprocal spiritual vs. physical directions. The upward triangle shows our spiritual aspirations toward Heaven, while the downward triangle represents the Torah’s down-to-earth flow to influence and affect our physical state.

According to Kabbalah the Magen David’s interlocking triangles also represent the Zohar’s "Three interconnected bonds of Torah, G-d and Israel" with the "three pillars on which the world stands: Torah, Service and Kindness" (Avot 1:2).

Last, but not least, the Torah (Deuteronomy 24:17, Maimonides Kings 101)) envisions and predicts that “A star will shoot forth from Jacob, and a ruler will arise from Israel” when Moshiach’s Final Redemption will change the whole world for good.