Ruth in Boaz's Field

Ruth in Boaz's Field
24th in the Biblical Art Series
Legal Tender issued by the Bank of Israel

The biblical story of Ruth is one of loving kindness, loyalty and love for the people of Israel, a story that has touched the hearts of millions of people. Starting with a family tragedy, it ends in happiness with the very beginning of a royal lineage. Amid famine in the Land of Israel, one of the noble families of Bethlehem in the region of Judah chose to escape the hardships by moving to Moab. However, in Moab, the father died. The two sons married Moabite girls but sadly, later, they died too. The mother, Naomi, now a poor widow, was left alone with her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. When the famine in the Land of Israel was over, Naomi prepared to return. Ruth, who was a Moabite princess, cleaved to her mother-in-law, left her royal home and her people and returned with Naomi to Bethlehem. Tired and hungry, Naomi and Ruth had to sustain themselves by gathering grain in the fields. According to Jewish law, grain that falls during harvesting must be left for the poor. It happened that Ruth came to glean in the field of Boaz, who was one of the respected people of Bethlehem and a relative of Naomi. Boaz was impressed with this modest woman and her exceptional kindness, and married her. Thus began the royal dynasty that led to the birth of King David and, according to Jewish tradition, will eventually lead to the birth of the Messiah.

Coin Description

Obverse: Israel State Emblem, the face value, "Israel" in English, Hebrew and Arabic, mint year and mint mark, inscription "Ruth in Boaz's Field" in the three languages, in the center, a decorative element representing a stalk of barley.

Reverse: Ruth and Boaz in a grain field in Bethlehem, each holding a stalk of barley. In the background are the mountains of Judah.

Designer: Michal Hamawi Mizrahi