Flag of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast

Jewish Autonomous Oblast
UseState flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion2:3
Adopted27 November 1996 (1996-11-27)
DesignA white field with seven thin horizontal stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, blue, and purple in the center, each separated from adjacent stripes by a thinner white stripe
Designed byAlexander Dmitrievich Valyaev
UseState flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion2:3
Adopted31 July 1996
Relinquished27 November 1996
DesignA white field with seven thin horizontal stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, blue, and purple in the center
The JAO flag at a public event in Birobidzhan

The flag of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast[a] is an official symbol of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, a federal subject of Russia. It is a white field with seven thin horizontal stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, blue, and purple in the center, each separated from adjacent stripes by a thinner white stripe. The current design was adopted on 27 November 1996; the oblast's first flag was adopted on 31 July 1996 and had a similar design, albeit with even thinner stripes and no white stripes in-between.

Design and symbolism

The Autonomous Oblast's flag consists of a rainbow on a white background, with seven narrow horizontal colored stripes: red, orange, yellow, green, sky blue, blue and purple. The colors are slightly different from the basic spectral colors, with gold in place of yellow, vivid blue instead of light blue, and indigo as dark blue,[1] The flag's aspect ratio is 2:3.

The seven colored stripes are centered vertically and regularly spaced; they have a height each equal to 1⁄40 of the flag's height, and are separated by thin spacing (white borders) equal to 1⁄120 of the flag's height.[2]

The current design was adopted on 27 November 1996.[3]

The white color of the cloth represents purity. Rainbows are the biblical symbol of peace, happiness, and goodness. The number of bands of the rainbow equal to the number of candles in the Menorah, one of the national religious Jewish symbols. The Menorah speaks of the creation of the world in seven days, and the number of bands of the rainbow emphasizes the connection with the ancient Jewish symbol. Also, the rainbow may symbolize the Seven Noahide laws.

Rainbow flag controversy

In 2013, the flag was checked according to the Russian gay propaganda law for the presence of gay propaganda, because of its resemblance to the rainbow LGBT flag. The JAO flag was confirmed as safe because of its white background, white borders between the colored stripes, and the seventh (light blue) colour.[4] However, there are gay-pride flags that use the seven colors of the JAO flag.[5] In 2022, the governor of the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Rostislav Goldstein, stated that the flag depicts a "biblical symbol" and has "nothing in common" with the LGBT flag, and said not to confuse it with the LGBT flag.[6]

Flags of administrative subdivisions

Flag Date Description
1998–Present Flag of Birobidzhan

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Russian: Флаг Еврейской автономной области, romanized: Flag Yevreyskoy avtonomnoy oblasti

References

  1. ↑ "Флаг ЕАО проверили на наличие гей-пропаганды" [JAO flag checked for gay propaganda] (in Russian). 30 October 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  2. ↑ (Russian) http://www.eao.ru/?p=5 Archived 2009-01-26 at the Wayback Machine (English translation)
  3. ↑ Flags of the World: Jewish Autonomous Region (Russia) https://www.fotw.info/flags/ru-yev.html
  4. ↑ "Символика" [Heraldics] (in Russian). Official State Portal of Jewish Autonomous Oblast. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  5. ↑ [ge.news-front.info/2021/05/25/tbilisi-pride-namakhvanze-mnishvnelovania-rom-samarthlianobisthvis-mebrdzolebi-gaemijnon-dzaladobriv-dajguphebebs/ "TBILISI PRIDE ნამახვანზე: მნიშვნელოვანია, რომ სამართლიანობისთვის მებრძოლები გაემიჯნონ ძალადობრივ დაჯგუფებებს"]. 2021-05-25. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  6. ↑ Gudoshnikov, Semyon (22 December 2022). "Губернатор Еврейской автономной области призвал не путать флаг региона с символом ЛГБТ". Afisha Daily (in Russian). Retrieved 17 January 2025.
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