My Jerusalem

MY JERUSALEM
State Medal 1996/5756

Jerusalem, the holiest city for the Jewish people, serves as the spiritual and religious fatherland of Western culture and is one of the holy cities for Christians and Moslems. For the Children of Israel, who have returned to Zion, it is also the center of their spiritual life – the capital of Israel. Kind David conquered the city 3000 years ago and made it his capital – The City of David. His son Solomon added to its splendor and built the First Temple in 953 BCE. In 587 BCE the city was conquered by the Nebuchadnezzar, King of the Babylonians. The Temple was destroyed and the Jewish Nation was exiled. In 538 BCE, during the rule of Persian King Cyrus the Great, Jews returned to Jerusalem and built the Second Temple. In 70 CE the city was conquered by the Romans, resulting in the destruction of the Second Temple. Jerusalem once again became Israel's Eternal Capital, after 1,900 years of exile and generations of yearning and prayer: "Next Year in Jerusalem".

Obverse: Sites in Jerusalem: The Western Wall, the Broad Wall from the First Temple Period, the Burnt House (Katres House), Yad-Vashem – The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority, The Israel Museum and the Dome of the Rock. Above the sites is the arch that was part of the Hurva Synagogue, symbolizing the destruction yet also serving as a sign of comfort, renewal and peace, like the arched rainbow in the clouds. The word "JERUSALEM" in Hebrew and English along the upper border. (The design is similar to the 1990 "Jerusalem-Paris" Medal design).

Reverse: The lion, symbol of the City of Jerusalem, surrounded by the word "JERUSALEM" in ten different languages (The design is similar to the 1983 "Jerusalem of Gold" Medal).

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

Serialization: From number 0001 upwards

Designer: Natan Karp

Engraving: Obverse Engraving: Kretschmer and Sons Reverse Engraving: Tidhar Dagan

Mint: The Government Mint, Israel