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# Jerusalem (Israel)

## Iriyat Yerushalayyim, Municipality of Jerusalem

Last modified: 2026-08-29 by martin karner
Keywords: jerusalem | israel | yerushalayyim | iriyat yerushalayyim | coat of arms (lion: blue) | text: hebrew (blue) |
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(8:11) image by Eugene Ipavec, 5 September 2007
Coat-of-arms adopted 13th November 1958

♦ photo
♦ photo (Mazkeret Batya)

- Description
  - Diagonal variant for representational purposes
- Vertical variant
- Desk Flag
- Coat of Arms

See also:

- Jerusalem Subdistrict (Israel)
- Jerusalem District (Israel)
- Kingdom of Jerusalem 1099–1291
- Jerusalem Civil Ensign 1333–1921
- BETAR Jerusalem Football Club
- Subnational Flags (Israel)
- Israel

## Description

The lion (...) is the symbol of Yehuda (Judah) Tribe.
Dov Gutterman, 18 November 1998

I have lived in Jerusalem, a few blocks away from City Hall, for a number of years. The charge and its inscription are yellow (or gold) and blue (or "indigo"), like the two horizontal stripes, and definitely not black. The inscription is merely the city's name in Hebrew.
The brickwork pattern represents the Kotel or Western Wall (of the Temple Mount). The fructed olive branches are, as in the national emblem and presidential standard, indicative of peace and goodwill. Yellow and white are said to represent the gold and silver vessels used in the Holy Temple of King Solomon on Mount Moriah. The color blue presumably symbolizes the tekhelet, a special dye used for tsitsiyot (fringes or tassels) on the talit (prayer shawl) and beged shel arba kanfot (four-cornered garment). There are other valid interpretations as well.
I am afraid that, for the moment, the source of this explanation is no better than the common knowledge. This does not necessarily make it hearsay, though. I suppose that just about any Jerusalemite who would claim to know the flag's significance will give the same reckoning I did. In truth, I have no doubt one could find any number of glossy coffee-table editions available in Jerusalem bookstores to corroborate that account, but if you were to question the authors, they would likely give you the same source I just did. In any event, the interpretation is not, to my knowledge, in dispute. There may well be some circles who find its symbolism somehow objectionable and offer substitutes of their own invention. So far as the actual devices on the flag are concerned, I can say that a careful examination of the wall in the flag will show that it is identical to the Western Wall. Yes, there is a unique pattern to the bricks.
M. Breier, 18/20 June 1999

The Jerusalem emblem was adopted in 1949 following an official competition, similar to the one for the national flag and emblem. A few years ago the City Gallery of Jerusalem (a fancy name for a one-room gallery near the City Hall) held an exhibition on the subject, showing some of the proposals. They also published a booklet, which I was lucky to obtain but since traded it and kept only a photocopy. The information there supports the explanation given by M. Breier.
Among the 1949 proposals there was one that was a truly heraldic achievement: a shield with the five Crusader crosses, lions as supporters and a lion crest. Also a motto in Latin — Nisi Dominus Custodierit Civitatem. The booklet claims that this proposal, by Ronald Bretton of Halifax, England, is an expression of the symbolic meaning of Jerusalem as a Holy City for all three religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). They say that the lions are the Lions of Judea. I disagree — lions are very common in heraldry, and even if this is the Lion of Judea, where is the Moslem element? This proposal made me laugh — it shows that the artist had a good knowledge of heraldry and history — and lack of any knowledge at all about modern Jerusalem, offering a Christian symbol to a Jewish city (in 1949 Jerusalem was divided so the emblem was for the Jewish part only). Heraldically, it is impressive — I have seen the original at the City Archives.
Nahum Shereshevsky, 26 June 1999

The municipal emblem was published in the official gazette (Rashumot), YP 633, 13 November 1958.
Dov Gutterman, 4 September 2001

The capital of Israel (670'000 inh. in 2003) and an holy site to three religions.
Some sites describe the emblem of the city but mainly say the same: The official site report: "The emblem of the city of Jerusalem tell the story of the early days of the State of Israel. Right after the establishment of the state, a decision was made that the emblem of the city of Jerusalem, as the capital of the State of Israel, should reflects the city's special meaning for the Jewish nation. At the first day od Adar 5710 (1950), the official emblem of the Jerusalem the capital, was chosen and printed.
The chosen emblem make reference to the glory of the past of the nation of Israel - the stone wall, as opposed to the olive branches which introduce the hope and paces of peace of a capital in a renewing state. The symbol of a lion, guarding the wall, symbolize the linkage of the capital to Juda Tribe estate and exists as one of the common Jewish symbols which had decorated holy vessels and ornamental curtain and doors of the holy ark in the synagogue....The designer was Eliyahu Koren."
See also: siach.project.org.il, www.waizmanschool.org.il and www.jafi.org.il.
The emblem appeared on a stamp [picture] issued on 2 February 1966.
Dov Gutterman, 21 April 2005

From Hebrew Wikipedia:

> In March 1958, the municipality adopted a light blue flag bearing two white stripes. Emblazoned on the flag was a lion embracing the walls of Jerusalem. In 1962, the flag's colours were changed to match those of the Israeli flag, due to the original flag's resemblance to the United Nations flag.
> The flag consists of five alternating horizontal stripes of white and blue. The white stripes at the top and bottom of the flag are one-tenth the width of the flag, and together with the blue stripes they occupy half the width. The other half is occupied by the central white stripe, with the emblem of Jerusalem in its centre. The flag is often flown vertically; in such cases, the emblem in the centre is rotated by 90 degrees so that it appears upright.
> (Translated with DeepL.com)

### Diagonal variant for representational purposes

image located by William Garrison, 28 May 2024
(picture source)

We understand what it means when a flag is shown as being either "horizontal" or "vertical". Please view the above Jerusalem flag, it is neither – sort of a 45-degree NW-diagonal angle.
FOTW dictionary does use "ascending diagonal" (to the NE) but lists no "descending diagonal" or "diagonal".* A flag whose shield/logo has been rotated approximately 45 degrees towards the northwest can be readily viewed when that flag is hung limp on a flag pole.
William Garrison, 22 April 2023
* Meanwhile we have the entry FLAG FOR SLANTED (DIAGONAL or OBLIQUE) DISPLAY.

We certainly can talk about the sense of turning a flag emblem into the diagonal position in order to become more photogenic when the flag is displayed standing or hanging limp. Is an artificial diagonal design still compatible with the original purpose and meaning of a flag? A flag which doesn't need a "diagonal" version, is the national flag of Israel. Looking at this flag hanging limp [picture source] makes it clear that the six-pointed Star of David is mostly in an upright position by nature. Every 60 degrees it stands upright which is quite convenient when displaying the flag in a standig or limp position.
Martin Karner, 2 May 2023

See also:

- Ministry of Health – Variant with rotated design
- IDF flag (rotated indoor version)
- FLAG FOR SLANTED (DIAGONAL or OBLIQUE) DISPLAY in Dictionary of Vexillology

## Vertical variant

image by Eugene Ipavec, 5 September 2007

♦ photo

The Jerusalem flag also appears in a semi-official celebratory version, taller than it is wide, with the shield between two vertical stripes.
M. Breier, 20 June 1999

I think the proportions are wrong. Jerusalem flag is really an "emblem on national flag" and Israeli vertical national flags are not 8:11 as the horizontal one but 1:3 and more. If you want the GIF being proportional then it should have a smaller emblem and thinner stripes.
Dov Gutterman, 23 June 1999

The image looks right in every detail, except these things typically (though not necessarily) are much, much longer. Also, I must reiterate, that as far as I know, they may have no more official status than decorative party favours. I feel obliged to report their existence chiefly because they are so commonplace. Whether they have ever been formally recognized and quantified – I do not know. I can say that I have found them hanging on the walls of City Hall itself, so that is probably a strong indicator that it receives, at least, tacit approval.
When it appears in the short form (1:3?), a typical display is flying it paired, side-by-side, with top and bottom edges run through with rods fastened to either side of a pole. In such a manner, it is held erect throughout display, irrespective of wind conditions. I'm sure there must be an obscure technical term for this type of arrangement, perhaps a true vexillum? When so displayed, it is as often from a streetlamp, telephone pole etc. as it is from a proper flagpole.
M. Breier, 24 June 1999

## Desk Flag

I located a photo of a table flag of Jerusalem. The photo came from the German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost
from 13 February, 1997. Text under the photo: "Historisch bedeutungsvolle Sitzung in Jerusalem: Premier Netanjahu und der Bürgermeister der heiligen Stadt, Ehud Olmert" (Historically significant session in Jerusalem: Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ehud Olmert, the mayor of the holy city).
It is known that the city flag of Jerusalem has the national flag's background. Therefore, I have been surprised that the table flag is divided into two strips. Does the mayor have, possibly, an own flag? Which flag is official? National background or bicolor?
Jens Pattke, 20 November 2004

Neither. There are no official municipal flags in Israel, just flags in use (de-facto), which means that they can use any pattern they want.
It is not uncommon that desk flags and regular flags are different. I got about 30 municipal desk flags and most of them are different from the de-facto regular flags.
Dov Gutterman, 20 November 2004

## Coat of Arms

(source) | (source)

From Hebrew Wikipedia:

> The arms comprise three elements:
> - A roaring lion – depicted in the Bible as the symbol of the tribe of Judah ("the lion's cub of Judah") and later also as the symbol of the Kingdom of Judah, whose capital was Jerusalem. Furthermore, Jewish tradition describes the Temple as a structure built in the shape of a lion (when viewed from above) and is therefore also known as Ariel. The lion is a common symbol of royal houses and kingdoms throughout the world, as the lion is regarded as the "king of beasts" and its presence therefore symbolises heroism, courage, strength and royalty. The lion is also one of the most common Jewish symbols found in the decoration of synagogues and ritual objects. In the emblem, the lion, standing upright on its hind legs (rampant), is depicted as a sort of guardian of the walls behind it.
> - The walls of Jerusalem – behind the lion – symbolise both the walls of the Old City and the stones of the Western Wall. The stones of the wall are depicted as large at the bottom and smaller at the top, in a manner characteristic of the Western Wall. This is despite the fact that the Old City was under Jordanian control when the emblem was adopted.
> - Olive leaves – symbolise peace as well as the olive trees common in the area around the city.
>   (Translated with DeepL.com)