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BACKGROUND
TO THE BAR-MITZVAH MEDAL In 1961, on the occasion of the Thirteenth Anniversary of the State of Israel, the Bar-Mitzvah Year of the State, a series of State Medals known as the Bar-Mitzvah Medals, was issued by the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation in bronze, silver and gold. These medals were struck in various sizes: Bronze:
59 mm.* Diameter * The reverse of the 59mm bronze medal exists in two varieties: Large tribes (the same as all other 1961 medals); and small tribes (see photograph below). The large tribes on the 59mm bronze metal is the rarer variety. **
The 19mm silver medal exists in three varieties: Since the original issues of these medals were sold out due to their popularity and suitability as Bar-Mitzvah gifts, the I.G.C.M.C. re-issued the medal with large tribes in 1971 in 45mm bronze and silver with unlimited mintage. Description of the Medal
I think we may take it for granted that almost everyone knows what a Bar-Mitzvah is and, at one time or another, has surely attended a Bar-Mitzvah ceremony as a participant or guest. The fact is that the Medal being discussed in this article is a most appropriate gift. There exist beautiful velvet-lined, olive-wood boxes in which the Medal may be housed, thus creating a lovely presentation piece. The
12-Tribes Emblem The
Tribe of Simeon. The
Tribe of Levi The
Tribe of Judah
The
Tribe of Zebulunt
The
Tribe' of Issachar
The
Tribe of Gad The
Tribe of Naphtali
The
Tribe of Reuben
Bibliography: (1)
The Pentateuch & Haftorahs: Edited by Dr. J. H, Hertz published
by the Soncino Press. A.I.N.A.
P.O. Box 20255 Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 (818) 225-1348 |
At
one o'clock is the Tower (wall), the Emblem of the Tribe of
Simeon. Genesis 49 V. 6 'for in their anger they slew men,,
and in their self-will they houghed oxen . . .' Authorities
interpret to 'hough' as to sever certain sinews and so render
animal helpless. Since mutilation of animals is not mentioned
in recounting Simeon destructiveness, many versions therefore
interpret 'They digged down a wall' referring to the destruction
of Shechem; known today as Nablus. The Hebrew words for 'ox'
and 'wall' differ only in the placement of one dot (ox -pronounced
shore) and dot, moved (wall - pronounced sure). Therefore, the
Emblem of the Tribe of Simeon is a wall or tower representing
their strength and destructiveness.. Simeon was Jacob's second
son.
At
two o'clock is the Breastplate, the Emblem of the Tribe of Levi.
Genesis 49 V. 7 'Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce and
their wrath, for it is cruel. I will divide them in Jacob and
scatter them in Israel.' As a result, later on the Levites were
given no single territory after the conquest of Canaan under
Joshua. Levi's descendants through his son Kohath were Moses
and Aaron who became the founders of the priestly line. His
descendants through his sons Gershon and Merari became the temple
servants and were called Levites. Thus the Emblem of the Tribe
of Levi was the Breastplate representing the one worn by the
high priests in the temple. Note that the Breastplate is divided
into twelve sections, each one representing one of the twelve
tribes. Levi was Jacob's third son.
At
three o'clock is the lion, the Emblem of the Tribe of Judah.
Genesis 49, V. 9 'Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my
son, thou art gone up. He stooped down, he couched as a lion,
and as a lioness: who shall rouse him up? The Emblem of the
Tribe of Judah was a lion. The metaphor suggests the vigor and
nobility of Judah and his offspring; and the habitual swiftness
and force of their military movement. 'Thou art gone up' - to
the security of the Judah hills, after the victorious conflict
in the plains below. Judah was Jacob's fourth son.
At
four o'clock is the ship, the Emblem of the Tribe of Zebulun.
Genesis 49, V. 13 'Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea.
He shall be a shore for ships, and his flank shall be upon Zidon.'
The favorable geographic position of Zebulun's territory is
described. A shore for ships, to which they may come for safety.
Zidon, the territory of Zebulun stretched from the Sea of Galilee
to Mount Carmel (on the Mediterranean) close under Tyre and
Zidon. Zebulun was Jacob's tenth son.
At
five o'clock is an ass, the Emblem of the Tribe of Issachar.
Genesis 49, V. 14-15 'Issachar is a large-boned ass couching
down between the sheepfolds. For he saw a resting place that
was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and he bowed his
shoulder to bear, and became a servant under taskwork.' Large
boned-ass, indicating great physical power. A resting place,
as opposed to the wandering life of nomads. Therefore, the Emblem
of the Tribe of Issachar was an ass, symbolic of power and servitude
to the land. Issachar was Jacob's ninth son.
At
six o'clock are the scales of justice, the Emblem of the Tribe
of Dan. Genesis 49, V. 16 'Dan shall judge his people, as one
of the tribes of Israel.' This is self-explanatory as to the
Emblem of the Scales of Justice for the Tribe of Dan. Sometimes
the Emblem of the Tribe of Dan is depicted as a snake. Genesis
49, V. 17 'Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake
in the path, that biteth the horse's heels, so that the rider
falleth backward.' A horned snake, is small, but highly venomous;
it coils itself in the sand and, it disturbed, darts out upon
any passing animal. Dan will prove dangerous to his foes by
ambuscades and guerrilla warfare. Dan was Jacob's fifth son.
At
seven o'clock is a tent, the Emblem of the Tribe of Gad. Genesis
49, V. 19. 'Gad, a troop shall troop upon him; but he shall
troop upon their heel.' Gad -- from Hebrew root Gedad, meaning
army or troop. A troop shall troop there is here a play upon
the name. Perhaps the translation should be, 'A raiding band
raids him, but he will band himself against their heels.' Later
on in the Biblical narrative, the Tribe of Gad succeeded in
repelling the Ammonites, Maolites and Aremaens, who were constantly
raiding his borders. Thus the Emblem of the Tribe of Gad was
a tent representing a military camp. Gad was Jacob's seventh
son.
At
eight o'clock is the hind (deer), the Emblem of the Tribe of
Naphtali. Genesis 49, V. 21 'Naphtali is a hind let loose; he
giveth goodly words. Hind let loose, an image of swiftness and
grace in movement. He giveth goodly words. This refers to the
Tribe's reputation for eloquence and the great victory of Barak,
a Naphtalite, which was followed by the glorious Song of Deborah.
The Emblem of the Tribe of Naphtali is a deer taken straight
from the above quote. Naphtali was Jacob's sixth son.
At
nine o'clock is the wolf, the Emblem of the Tribe of Benjamin.
Genesis 49, V. 27 'Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth; in the
morning he devoureth the prey, and at the even he divideth the
spoil.' A wolf that raveneth -- refers to the warlike character
of the Tribe. Therefore, Benjamin's Emblem was a wolf as described
in his father's blessing. Benjamin was Jacob's twelfth and youngest
son
At
ten o'clock is the olive tree, the Emblem of the Tribe of Asher.
Genesis 49, V. 20 'As for Asher his bread shall be fat and he
shall yield royal dainties.' Asher -- the name means 'happy'
or 'fortunate'-- and this meaning is reflected in Jacob's blessing
upon him. The land of Asher was prosperous. Royal Dainties--
delicacies fit for the table of kings. The allusion is probably
to an export trade carried on by the men of Asher. The Tribe
Emblem of Asher was an olive tree representing wealth in agricultural
food products. Asher was the eighth son of Jacob.
At
eleven o'clock is a sheaf of wheat, representing the Emblem
of the Tribe of Joseph. Genesis 49, V. 25 'Even by the Good
of thy father, who shall help thee, and by the Almighty, who
shall bless thee, with blessings of heaven above. Blessings
from the deep that coucheth beneath, blessings of the breast
and of the womb . . .' Three blessings are mentioned. Blessings
of heaven, rain and dew, sunshine and wind. The deep, the subterranean
reservoir of waters beneath from which spring fertility to the
soil. The breasts, the fruitfulness of the family. The Emblem
of the Tribe of Joseph was the sheaf of wheat representing fruitfulness
of the universe as described in Jacob's blessing upon him. The
Emblem also represents Joseph's control of the food resources
in Egypt during his years as Minister to Pharaoh, after interpreting
Pharaoh's dreams of seven years of feast to be followed by seven
years of famine. Joseph was Jacob's eleventh son.
At
twelve o'clock is a sun, the Emblem of the Tribe of Reuben.
Genesis 49, V. 3-4 'Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might,
and the first fruits of my strength; the excellency of dignity,
and the excellency of power.' The sun symbolized the excellency
of dignify and power of the first-born.