Honi the Circle Drawer

HONI THE CIRCLE-DRAWER
Official Medal, 2010/5770.
Sixth in the "Jewish Folktales" Medal Series.

Honi the Circle-Drawer lived in the 1st century BCE, at the peak of the Hasmonean period, when Simeon ben Shetach presided over the Sanhedrin Court. The name "Honi" most probably comes from the Hebrew name "Yohanan" or from its Greek/Roman version, Honio. Honi was known for his piety and his prayers which were always answered. Outstandingly learned in Torah, he was able to explain every aspect of Jewish Law and respond to questions in a manner which was comprehensible even to people unfamiliar with the subject.
He was called the "Circle-Drawer" because when he prayed for rain, he would do so by drawing a circle around himself and swearing not to leave the circle until his prayer was answered. The story of Honi is described a few times in the Talmud; In a year of drought, the people turned to Honi, who was recognized for his closeness to G-d, asking him to pray for rain on their behalf. Honi's prayers were answered and the rain fell.
In the Babylonian Talmud, it is told that Honi the Circle-Drawer slept for 70 years and when he woke up, realizing he could not live in the world to which he had awoken, he asked G-d for mercy, and died.
Honi's grave is traditionally thought to be close to Hazor HaGlilit in the north of Israel.

Obverse: Depicts Honi the Circle-Drawer standing within the circle he had drawn around himself on the parched ground. Honi looks up to the sky and stretches his hand upwards to the rain falling from the clouds, for which he had so fervently prayed. To the right, "Honi the Circle-Drawer" in Hebrew and English.

Reverse: The reverse side is in common with all of the medals in this series, showing a grandfatherly figure telling a tale to his grandchildren and strengthening the ties that bind the generations, old and young alike, together.

Edge:
Gold and Silver medals: Smooth.
Bronze medal: Milled.

Designer: Aharon Shevo.

Engraving: USA.

Mint:
Silver and Bronze medals: USA.
Gold medal: ICMC Mint.