Israel - Clandestine Immigration , State Medal 2004 - Gold 585, 17g, 30.5mm - Mintage 250, Rare. To ...

Israel - Clandestine Immigration , State Medal 2004 - Gold 585, 17g, 30.5mm - Mintage 250, Rare. To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the start of the “clandestine immigration” to Israel, one of the most important and heroic endeavors of the Jewish people, a special State Medal of Israel was issued. Clandestine immigration began just before the State of Israel was established in 1948. Between 1934 and 1948, over 120,000 immigrants managed to arrive in the Land of Israel on board small ships, despite the consistent and forceful efforts of the British to stop them. The medal in itself has special numismatic value as it contains a replica of another historical medal. The original medal was especially ordered in 1946 by Yehuda Arazi, one of the most prominent personalities of the "Haganah" (underground military organization in the pre-state). Yehuda Arazi, who worked for years in secret assignments, purchasing enormous quantities of arms and ammunition for the Jewish Defense Forces, became head of the clandestine operations in Italy, in 1945, following World War II . Arazi and his devoted assistants, were relentless in their struggle against the British policy to prevent free immigration to the Land of Israel. Secretly, ships were acquired and renovated. One after another, they were sent on their way to the Land of Israel, each with thousands of “illegal” immigrants on board. In April 1946, in the small Italian Port of La Spezia, 1014 survivors from the Concentration Camps prepared to sail to the Land of Israel. When this was discovered by the British, the boat was detained and efforts were made to force the “illegal immigrants” to a Refugee Camp. Yehuda Arazi, disguised as a Jewish refugee, led a revolt that caused a major reaction around the world against what was regarded as the cruelty and lack of humanity of the British. The bitter struggle lasted over a month and reached its peak when Yehuda Arazi declared a hunger strike on board. Leaders of the Jewish Community in the Land of Israel joined the strike in solidarity. Finally, after 75 dramatic hours of hunger strike, the British army gave in to the pressures of international public opinion and allowed the immigrants to sail to the Land of Israel, legally. Just before they departed, on the eve of Passover, Yehuda Arazi conducted a Seder at the Port, attended by all the immigrants and dignitaries. In a moving speech, he compared the Exodus from Egypt to the Exodus from Europe. On that occasion he awarded the medal to a few people who had contributed greatly to the success of the mission, and later to all the people, Jews and non-Jews (Police Officers, Sailors, Italian Government Officials), who deserved a token of appreciation for their assistance in the clandestine operations. The designs of each side of the medal chosen by Yehuda Arazi consist of biblical phrases and images - on the medal face, “Your Children will return to their Land”(Jeremiah), over a ship on a stormy sea and the Hebrew dates 5705-5706, and on the reverse, the words “Judaea Restituta” (“Judaea Restituted”), with the Tower of David opposite Titus Gate in the background and the dates MCMXLV – MCMXLVI (1945-1946). The design of this historical medal of Israel forms part of the design of the Clandestine Immigration 70th Anniversary State Medal of Israel. Obverse: On the medal face, “Your Children will return to their Land”(Jeremiah), over a ship on a stormy sea and the Hebrew dates 5705-5706. Reverse: On the reverse, the words “Judaea Restituta” (“Judaea Restituted”), with the Tower of David opposite Titus Gate in the background and the dates MCMXLV – MCMXLVI (1945-1946).