The amazing story of the Israeli blue & white flag
From the biblical book of Numbers, thru the Warsaw ghetto uprising and up until the battles of modern Israel, the story of the Israeli blue & white flag is intertwined in the story of the Jewish people. “It has always been present in every chapter of our history as people, if whole or in some of its parts. From the amazing tale of our flag one can learn the tales of Israel through the times.” Says Dany Biran, author of the book about the Israeli flag called, “A Man on his Flag”.
Is there anything that makes us feel prouder of the Jewish Nation than the Israeli flag?
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The color blue, or to be more accurate the color “tchelet” = light blue, has been linked since ancient times with the land of Israel and the Jewish tradition of weaving the tassels of the tzitzit. ציצית. Since antiquity, researchers and clergy have been fascinated with the process that is needed to make the distinct color blue. In later times the tzitziot, together with influences of the Roman toga, had become the blue stripes of our flag.
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The Magen David in the middle, came to us from ancient Eastern civilizations where it held magical mystical meanings. During the Middle Ages, the Star of David became identified as the symbol of the Jews, who had chosen it to distinct themselves under the monarchs of Europe at the time. In the late 18th century, the Zionist movement chose it again as a symbol. During the national awakening era the leaders had offered other options as the national flag, for example, Herzel offered the 7 stars flag, but this proposal did not make it, as the people wanted two stripes and a Magen David.
The flag was displayed during the first Zionist congress in Basel in 1897, but it only became the official flag in 1933. The flag was voted on, and once the decision was made, everyone stood up and sang the Hatikva together.
Another amazing episode in the tale of the blue and white flag happened during our nation’s darkest hour. Close to Pesach 1943 the Nazis were preparing for the elimination of the Warsaw Ghetto and deporting all Jews to the extermination camps.
On April 19th, the Jewish uprising began. The Jews were resisting the deportation with force and surprised the Nazis. What infuriated the Nazi general the most was the Hebrew flag flying over the ghetto by the Jewish warriors from the resistant movement AZI. The flag was on the tallest building in Moranowsky square and could be seen from the Polish side as well.
To both the Jewish fighters and to the Nazis, the flag was a symbol of fight and uprising. The Nazi general ordered to take the flag down at any cost. Many Nazi soldiers and many Jewish defenders lost their lives in this battle. After five days of fighting, the flag taken down, following heavy bombardment and many losses. Although the Ghetto and its inhabitants all perished, the tale of the brave fight and flag left a strong impact in the pages of history.
After the Holocaust, many survivors carried the flag with them on their way to Israel aboard ships.
When Israel was founded in 1948, many committees deliberated regarding the future national flag. In the end the flag with two stripes and theMagen David was chosen as the people could not truly relate to any of the other versions.
During the Independence War, two Israeli battalions were heading south towards Eilat, in an attempt to take the Negev and Arava under Israeli territory. The Negev battalion got there first and made it to Um-Rash Rash. There, Avraham Aden flagged an improvised flag that the company’s secretary made from a bed sheet and dyed with ink. Another flag was flagged earlier on the same day at Ein Gedi, thus including Masada and Ein Gedi in the Israeli territory as well. In 1967, Dani Biran, the author, was the young soldier who flagged the Israeli flag over the temple mount after the liberation of the western wall and temple mount from Jordan.
The Israeli Blue and White flag symbolizes our nation from antiquity until today. It is, together with the Menorah and our national anthem – the Tikva – the symbol of Israel and the echo of our hearts for many generations before and of many generations to come.
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Is there anything that makes us feel prouder of the Jewish Nation than the Israeli flag?
IsraeliBox sends Israel straight to you in a box each month, featuring Israeli symbols and the Hebrew language.
Shalom, I’m Maya, a native Israeli (aka sabra) and the founder of Israelibox.
IsraeliBox is a subscription box that brings Israel closer to you than ever.
I started Israelibox to give you the chance to experience Israel like Israelis do.
Join me in supporting Israel in a unique way while enjoying the great products our small businesses have to offer.
Want to send Israel as a gift?
Our Shuk Basket Box features some of the best products in Israel’s shuks, serving as a great base to any Israeli meal or snack.
