Palestine – “Mendele Mocher Sefarim” Medal - Bezalel, Jerusalem, 1836-1918

Palestine – “Mendele Mocher Sefarim” Medal - Bezalel, Jerusalem, 1836-1918 A rare artistic medal produced by Bezalel, Jerusalem, dedicated to Mendele Mocher Sefarim (the pen name of Sholem Yankev Abramovich), regarded as the father of modern Hebrew literature. The medal was likely issued in 1936, as part of a commemorative series created in the Bezalel workshops honoring major figures in Jewish culture and national revival. Obverse: Bust of Mendele in profile, with the Hebrew inscription: "תקצ״ו-תרע״ח, מנדלי מו״ס (מוכר ספרים)" - “1836–1918, Mendele Mocher Sefarim” - and above, the initials מ. מ. (Moshe Moro), the Bezalel artist and engraver. Reverse: Inscribed “אגודת המורים ירושלים” (“Teachers’ Association, Jerusalem”), indicating the medal was also issued in tribute to the emerging Hebrew educational system in pre-State Israel. The piece combines the characteristic artistic elements of early Bezalel - a realistic portrait, deep engraving, and fine metalwork - reflecting the reverence for Mendele as a cultural symbol of the revival of the Hebrew language and nationhood.