Israel – medal of the Babylonian Jewish Heritage Center – published by the Government Coin and Medal Society – 935 ...

Israel – medal of the Babylonian Jewish Heritage Center – published by the Government Coin and Medal Society – 935 silver, 115 g 59 mm Interior: Palm trees stand at the foot of a river with the caption from Psalms "On the rivers of Babylon where we sat wept and wept in our memory Zion." Back: Caption "Babylonian Jewish Heritage Center" with a portrait of the place. The Babylonian Jewish Heritage Center was established in 1973 with the aim of preserving the history of the Jewish community in Iraq and ensuring that it remains part of the future narrative of the Jewish people. To this end, the "Center" cultivates research, preservation and publicity activities of the culture and folklore of Iraqi Jews. Next to the "Center" is the "Museum of Babylonian Jewry", which was opened to the public in 1988, and presents chapters from the history of the Jews of Babylon for their generations for over 2600 years. The idea of ​​establishing a "Babylonian Jewish Heritage Center" was raised at the initiative of Mordechai Ben-Porat, following a decision by the Or Yehuda Council to allocate plots for the establishment of community centers for people from Israeli communities in the city. In 1973, the idea of ​​establishment was formulated with the participation of ministers, Knesset members and public figures. In 1977, the Academic Council was established near the Center and the Institute for the Study of Babylonian Jewry, when in a room on Hayarkon Street in Tel Aviv, the research infrastructure began to form, which included a library, archive and collections, and research on the history and culture of Babylonian Jews. In 1980, the construction of the "Center" house in Or Yehuda was completed and activities moved to it, and on Passover 1988, the "Museum of Babylonian Jewry" opened with a mass event attended by the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Haim Herzog.