Israeli Flag Pole

The Flag of Israel
A symbol of identity, faith, and nationhood
The national flag of Israel, officially adopted on October 28, 1948, just five months after the country's Declaration of Independence, is a powerful symbol of Jewish identity and the modern State of Israel. Its design consists of a white field with two horizontal blue stripes near the top and bottom, and a blue Star of David (Magen David) prominently centered. The imagery draws inspiration from the tallit, the traditional Jewish prayer shawl, which is typically white with blue or black stripes.
The origins of Jewish symbolism through banners and flags can be traced back to the Book of Numbers (2:2), where the twelve tribes of Israel are described as camping “each by his own standard, with the ensigns of their ancestral houses.” According to the Midrash (Numbers Rabbah 2:7), each tribal leader carried a flag (mappah) bearing a unique color, associated with one of the twelve gemstones from the high priest Aaron’s breastplate—adding a mystical and visual dimension to tribal identity.
The modern Zionist flag, which served as the basis for Israel’s national flag, emerged in the late 19th century. In 1891, members of the Zionist movement in Rishon LeZion designed a flag inspired by the tallit, incorporating the blue stripes and the Star of David. Theodor Herzl, the father of modern political Zionism, initially proposed a very different design: a white flag with seven gold stars symbolizing a new, pure life and the "seven working hours" of the day. However, this proposal was ultimately set aside in favor of the more resonant tallit-based design.
The use of blue and white as Jewish national colors can be traced to the 1860 poem Judah’s Colors by Austrian-Jewish poet Ludwig August Frankl. He wrote that blue symbolized “the splendor of the firmament,” while white represented “the radiance of the priesthood.” These dual themes—spiritual elevation and priestly purity—became embedded in Zionist visual culture.
By the time the First Zionist Congress convened in Basel in 1897, the Star of David had been firmly adopted as the emblem of the movement. The dark blue stripes in the original flag design were later lightened to improve visibility at sea. After Israel’s founding in 1948, this Zionist flag was officially adopted as the national flag by law.
Today, the flag of Israel is not only flown across the country and on government buildings—it is also prominently displayed at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and at diplomatic missions around the world.
Modern Israeli flags are commonly manufactured from durable 200-denier nylon, treated to resist fading from sun and weather exposure. They feature a dyed, single-sided image with a mirror image on the reverse, reinforced with a sturdy white canvas heading and metal grommets for outdoor display.
From its tribal roots in ancient texts to its modern role as a national symbol, the flag of Israel embodies a deep continuity of Jewish identity, resilience, and sovereignty.