Blessing

Priestly Blessing
State medal, 1988 5748

"May the Lord bless you and keep you..." the sons of Aaron, the priests, were commanded to bless the Children of Israel as part of the Temple service. This blessing continues in use today; it is found in the daily morning prayers and is used by parents in blessing their children every Sabbath and holiday. Recent archaeological excavations at Ketef Hinnom in Jerusalem uncovered two small silver scrolls, one containing a fragmentary text nearly identical to the Priestly Blessing in the Torah. This is the first find of such an object from period of the First Temple. On the basis of epigraphy and form, there is no doubt that the case containing the Priestly Blessing was worn about the neck next to the heart or on the hand and served as a protective talisman.

Obverse: Stylized depiction of the priest's hands while blessing the people. Around the circumference, the words "may the Lord bless you" with God's name enlarged, above in Hebrew, below in English.

Reverse: Silver plate with engraved Priestly Blessing from the First Temple period (7th century BCE) in ancient Hebrew script and the words "Priestly Blessing" in Hebrew and English. In the 12.5 mm. and 14 mm. gold medals, appear the State emblem, the word "ISRAEL' and the symbol of metal content according to the Israel Bureau of Standards: Gold 585 in the 12.5 m. medal and Gold 750 in the 14 mm. medal.

Edge: On bronze/tombac and silver medals, the State emblem, and the words "STATE OF ISRAEL' in Hebrew and in English with the serial number. On 37 mm. silver medal, "SILVER 935" in Hebrew and English. On 19 mm. silver medal and gold medals - milled.

Serialization: Bronze/tombac and 37 mm. silver medals are numbered.

Designer: Gideon Keich. Copy of the silver scrolls courtesy of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums.

Engraving: Kretschmer

Mint: Bronze/tombac and gold - Kretschmer. Silver - The Government Mint.