Auction 32 - Objects: Judaica, Israeliana, Archeology and Medals

Charity Tokens – Eretz Israel and Syria

Opening: $300
Sold for: $500
Including buyer's premium
Eighteen "Charity" tokens. Eretz Israel and Syria, [turn of the 20th cent.]. 1-16. Sixteen round tokens. [Zedakah/Hevra Kadisha]. These tokens were meant for carriers of coffins or given to beggars in the Mount of Olives cemetery. Dov Genihovsky claims that the tokens were issued by "Torat Haim" Yeshivah established in the 1990s. Amongst other things he writes: "'Torat Haim' tokens were purchased by poor people for giving change to donors of charity. Once a quantity of tokens was accumulated they could be exchanged for Turkish money – for a reasonable commission. The value of these token which were permanently in circulation, together with the value of lost tokens, was the 'profit' of the Yeshivah". 17. Square token, "Bikur Holim". 18. Round token, "Bezedakah Techoneni". Syria. On the sides appear the letters "B" and "K" [probably Beit Knesset]. In the center appears the number 101, equal in its numeric value to the name of Angel Michael whose name was related to donating charity.
Medals, Coins and Method of Payment
Medals, Coins and Method of Payment