JBN reported Tuesday that Amazon has been selling Halloween items such as lawn decorations and costumes that bear the Star of David, which to some Jews means that the creators of this paraphernalia are deliberately linking a Jewish symbol to representations of evil, such as witches.

But could there be an innocent explanation?

After digging deeper into the historical origins of the hexagram, a shape that is formed by two overlapping triangles, JBN discovered that the symbol predates its Jewish connection and is found across cultures. It appears, for example, in South Asian religious art, representing the union of complementary forces, such as masculine and feminine.

In Jewish history, an early appearance of the hexagram emerges in the Leningrad Codex, the oldest complete surviving manuscript of the Tanach from the early 11th century. During that time period, it was more commonly known as the Seal of Solomon in both the Jewish and Islamic traditions and was believed to contain magical properties, hence its use in amulets.

The Talmud relates a story about the signet ring of King Solomon that was engraved with God’s name and gave him power over demons; later in Islamic tradition the ring was believed to have been engraved with the Seal of Solomon and gave the wearer dominion over demons, jinn, and evil spirits. The adoption of the Star of David a Jewish communal symbol began gradually in the 14th century and by the 19th century was universal.

Now here’s where it gets interesting: In magical rituals, the hexagram was often drawn inside a circle to confine the magical forces within its boundaries.

In both Amazon items that JBN reported on, the hexagram is enclosed inside a circle, which raises the possibility of a simple and innocent explanation: It’s not meant to represent the Jewish Star of David but an ancient magical symbol. So putting it on a witch’s spellbook would make sense in that scenario.

That said, given the current climate of rising antisemitism, it’s a remarkable coincidence, or at the very least, it’s remarkably tone-deaf.

What do you think? Is there an innocent reason for the Star of David on Halloween items, or is it malicious? Please let us know in the comments!