<P> We have no flag, and we need one . If we desire to lead many men, we must raise a symbol above their heads . I would suggest a white flag, with seven golden stars . The white field symbolizes our pure new life; the stars are the seven golden hours of our working - day . For we shall march into the Promised Land carrying the badge of honor . </P> <P> David Wolffsohn (1856--1914), a businessman prominent in the early Zionist movement, was aware that the nascent Zionist movement had no official flag, and that the design proposed by Theodor Herzl was gaining no significant support, wrote: </P> <P> At the behest of our leader Herzl, I came to Basle to make preparations for the Zionist Congress . Among many other problems that occupied me then was one that contained something of the essence of the Jewish problem . What flag would we hang in the Congress Hall? Then an idea struck me . We have a flag--and it is blue and white . The talith (prayer shawl) with which we wrap ourselves when we pray: that is our symbol . Let us take this Talith from its bag and unroll it before the eyes of Israel and the eyes of all nations . So I ordered a blue and white flag with the Shield of David painted upon it . That is how the national flag, that flew over Congress Hall, came into being . </P> <P> In the early 20th century, the symbol began to be used to express Jewish affiliations in sports . Hakoah Vienna was a Jewish sports club founded in Vienna, Austria, in 1909 whose teams competed with the Star of David on the chest of their uniforms, and won the 1925 Austrian League soccer championship . Similarly, The Philadelphia Sphas basketball team in Philadelphia (whose name was an acronym of its founding South Philadelphia Hebrew Association) wore a large Star of David on their jerseys to proudly proclaim their Jewish identity, as they competed in the first half of the 20th century . </P>

What is the origin of the star of david