70th Anniversary of Keren Kayemeth

70th Anniversary of Keren Kayemeth, the Jewish National Fund
State Medal, 5732-1971

The Jewish National Fund, the chosen instrument of the Zionist Organization for land redemption in Palestine, was founded in 1901 (5662). Its purposes were defined as follows: "To use donations by the people for the acquisition of land for the people, to enable the settler to work the land with his own means, to make Hebrew labor secure, to put an end to land speculation." By the end of 1 948, the Fund had redeemed about a million dunams, mostly from absentee owners. The J.N.F. drained the swamps, prepared the land, paved roads, planted forests on land unsuitable for cultivation. In 1960 a unified authority was established "The Israel Land Authority" to manage the national land resources. Preparing land for settlement, draining work, forestation and road construction were allocated to the "Land Development and Management", a subdivision of the J.N.F.

Obverse: In the center a bulldozer leveling a path for a road. On the rim: "Jewish National Fund 5662-5732, 1901 -1971" in Hebrew and the translation in English.

Reverse: A stylized drawing representing reforestation works. On the rim, in Hebrew and English the passage "For the land is mine" (from the verse Leviticus 25:23) "And the land shall not be sold in perpetuity for the land is mine".

Edge: The State emblem and the words "State of Israel" in Hebrew and English. The silver medal bears "Silver 935" in Hebrew and "Sterling" in English.

Serialization: All medals are numbered. Bronze 8165 of which 317 were melted. Silver: 5000, of which 200 were melted.

Designer: Nathan Karp.

Engraving: Le Medaillier, Paris.

Mint: Hecht