Moshe Sharett

Moshe Sharett
Official Medal 1999/5759
Second Medal in the "Prime Ministers of Israel" Series of Six Medals.

Moshe Sharett (Shertok), second Prime Minister of Israel, was born in Ukraine, in 1894. He immigrated to Israel with his family in 1906. Sharett was educated in the Herzlia Gymnasium, the first Hebrew-speaking High School in Israel, graduated in Law in Constantinopole and after World War I, studied Economics in London. In 1925, he returned to Israel to work at the Jewish Agency State Department. Sharett was among the founders of the Jewish Brigade during World War II. He worked to achieve a majority in favor of the U.N.'s Partition Plan and, when established, he was appointed as the first Foreign Minister. From 1954 – 1955, Sharett served as Prime Minister of Israel, in addition to fulfilling his duties as Foreign Minister. In 1960, he was elected as Chairman of the Jewish Agency and Zionist Organization and developed his remaining years, until his death in 1965, to Zionist activity and writing. Moshe Sharett laid the foundation for Israeli diplomacy and furthering of Zionist and Israeli Foreign Affairs. He believed that Israel would be able to build friendly relations with her Arab neighbors. Sharett was noted for his analytic abilities and diligence. He was fluent in eight languages yet remained devoted to Hebrew, adding glosses to the developing modern Hebrew, and translating poetry into Hebrew.

Obverse: Portrait of Moshe Sharett, around the right-hand-side border, an olive branch and around the left, "Moshe Sharett" in Hebrew and English.

Reverse: Inscription "Prime Minister Medal" in Hebrew and English and to the right, the Israel State Emblem and above it, the Israel Flag.

Edge: State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL" inscribed in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left; the serial number and metal.

Designer: Eliezer Weishoff.

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan.

Mint: Government Mint, Jerusalem.