Izhak Ben-Zvi

IZHAK BEN-ZVI
STATE MEDAL, 1997/5758
Second Medal in the "Presidents of Israel" Series, issued in honor of Israel's 50th Anniversary Year

Izhak Ben-Zvi was born in 1884, in Poltava, Ukraine. He was the oldest son in a Zionist family and received a traditional Jewish and modern education. At the time of the 1905 Pogrom, he was active in the Jewish Self Defense Organization. Afterwards, when a store of weapons was found in his parents' home, members of his family were arrested and his father was exiled to Siberia. Izhak Ben-Zvi fled to Vilna, where he continued to work with the "Zionist Social Democrats" that was in its founding stages. In 1907, Ben-Zvi immigrated to the Land of Israel and represented the "Zionist Social Democrats" at the Eighth Zionist Congress. He was integral in the establishment of Hashomer Organization and founded the first Jewish-Socialist periodical in the Land of Israel. Along with David Ben-Gurion, he was arrested and deported. In the United States, they established the "Hehalutz" ("Pioneer") Movement, which prepared young people for the Land of Israel. Ben-Zvi and Ben-Gurion were among the first to volunteer for service in the Jewish Legion of the British Army in 1918, and thus returned to the Land of Israel. During the riots of 1920 in Jerusalem, Ben-Zvi served in the Haganah. He was elected to the "People's Council" as Chairman, in 1931, and as President in 1945. After the establishment of the State of Israel, he was elected as a member of Knesset in 1949 and 1951. In 1952, Ben-Zvi was elected to be the second President of the State of Israeland served in this appointment until the day of his death in 1963.

Obverse: Image of Izhak Ben-Zvi, Israel State Emblem to the right, inscription “IZHAK BEN-ZVI” in Hebrew and English along the upper border and the words ‘ISRAEL’S SECOND PRESIDENT 1952-1963” in Hebrew and English along the lower border.

Reverse (common to the entire series of presidential medals and commemorating Israel’s 50th anniversary): The Declaration of Independence Scroll and Presidential Flag, inscription “Israel 50” and words “Israel’s 50th Anniversary” in Hebrew along the lower border.

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

Designer: Ruben Nutels.

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan.

Mint: The Government Mint, Israel.