Emblem of Israel
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| Coat of arms of Israel | |
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The image used on the Coat of Arms is based on the menorah on the Arch of Titus.
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| Details | |
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| Adopted | February 10, 1949 |
| Escutcheon | Menorah, two olive brances, and the writing "ישראל" (Israel) |
| Use | on passports and official documents; on the presidential standard; on official and public buildings |
The Emblem of Israel (Hebrew: סמל מדינת ישראל) shows a menorah surrounded by an olive branch on each side, and the writing "ישראל" (Hebrew for Israel) below it. While the background of the emblem is always blue, the menorah and olive branches can be either white or golden. The white-on-blue version appears on the presidential standard, while the gold-on-blue version is the common one when showing the emblem independently.
The State of Israel adopted the emblem 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, such as Oteh Walisch and W. Struski's and Itamar David and Yerachmiel Schechter's entries.
The menorah has been a symbol of Judaism for almost 3000 years. It was used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. The olive branches symbolize peace.
The emblem of Israel is depicted on the front cover of Israeli passports.
[edit] References
- Alec Mishory (2003-04-28). "The Flag and the Emblem". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern%20History/Israel%20at%2050/The%20Flag%20and%20the%20Emblem. Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
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