Levi Eshkol

Levi Eshkol
Official Medal 2000/5760
Third in the "Prime Ministers of Israel" Series.

Levi Eshkol (Skolnik) was born in the Ukraine in 1895 to a Hassidic family. He was educated in "Heder" (Hebrew Classes) and by private tutors. While studying at the Hebrew Academy of Vilna, he joined a Zionist youth movement and in 1914 he made aliyah as a pioneer. Levi Eshkol was one of the founders of Kibbutz Deganiah Bet, the Histadrut Workers Union, and later of the Mapai Party. During the 1930's, He worked in Nazi Germany, Poland, and Lithuania, transferring immigrants and their possessions from Germany. When David Ben-Gurion retired as Prime Minister in 1963, Eshkol was appointed as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. He improved relations with the United States, meeting President Johnson in Washington, D.C., and secured American weaponry for the IDF. The highlight of Eshkol's term, was the establishment of a National Unity Government on the eve of the Six Day War in 1967, which led to Israel's unprecedented victory. Levi Eshkol died while in office on February 26, 1969.

Obverse: Portrait of Levi Eshkol, around the right-hand-side border, an olive branch and around the left, "Levi Eshkol" 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.