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Img. ID: 24382

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Radovan, Zev, 1986

The redemption coin is shaped like a Star of David, decorated with an interlaced open hand (hamsa) and fish on one side and an inscription on the other (fig. 1 and main photograph).

The inscription is engraved in Hebrew square letters in a zigzag line, and reads:

"שדי/ הילד הבין (הבן)/ הבכור/ משה ן' (בן) מרדכי/ חיון ס"ט (סופו טוב)/ יום יא' אלול/ שנת/ התרצ"ב."

"God Almighty (Shadai). The child, the elder son, Moses son of Mordechai Hayun, may his end be well. (Who was redeemed) on the 11th of Elul, the year 5692 (12.9.1932)." 

Name/Title
Selah LePidion HaBen (a coin for the Redemption of the First Born) | Unknown
Object Detail
Settings
Unknown
Date
1932 (ins)
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Congregation
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period Detail
Collection
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Material / Technique
Silver
Structure: cut
Decoration: engraved
Bonding: soldered
Inscription: engraved
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height: 70 mm
Width: 70 mm
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Subject
Condition
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Redemption of the First Born
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
None
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks

The hamsa and the fish are symbols used against evil eye, for good luck and fertility. These symbols are common in the island and are used as amulets (fig. 2). The Djerban Jews paint the external walls of a dwelling house with similar motifs to protect a newly-married couple and to wish them fertility (See: Sc.94(PC)-21). 

Remarks
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
The Star of David was used as a coin for redeeming the first born in the coastal city Nabeul and was brought by the family to Israel.
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography
• Amar, Ariella, and Chernetsky, Irina. Shadai’ot: The Collection of the Jewish Museum of Greece: Documentation of the Index for Jewish Art. Jerusalem: Internal publication of The Center for Jewish Art, 2006. • Amar, Ariella. "Re-Reading an Ancient Community: Special Donations among the Romaniot Jews." In Studia Rosenthaliana. Ed. Sarig, Naomi. Netherlands: Peeters. Forthcoming. • Bar-Levav, Avriel. "Death, Burial and Mourning." In The Life Cycle. Ed. Sabar Shalom, pp. 280-323. Jerusalem: Ben-Zvi Institue for Study of Jewish Communities in the East, 2006. In Hebrew. • HaCohen Khalfon, Moses. Brit Kehunah HaShalem. Djerba. 1941. In Hebrew. • HaCohen, Shushan. Perah Shushan: Mamlekhet Cohanim. Jerusalem: Itah, 1977. In Hebrew.
Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Mira Smoli | 08.86
Author of description
Ariella Amar | 03.11
Architectural Drawings
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Computer Reconstruction
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Section Head
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Language Editor
Dvora Sax | 10.11
Donor
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Negative/Photo. No.