Bronze medal awarded to the person who delivered the best sermon in Dutch, on behalf of "High Commission for Jewish Affairs" (Hoofdcommissie tot de zaken der Israeliten). Holland, 1827.
Obverse: An anchor and the Tablets of the Law leaning against an altar-like base topped with a Star of David surrounded by a wreath of leaves and a flame under sun beams. A surrounding legend: "Overeenkomstig z:m:besluit van 17.October 1827. No 184". Signed: J. P. [Johann Peter] Schouberg F. / Stein inv.
Reverse: A wreath of leaves surrounded by a legend: "Toegewezen door de hoofd commissie tot de zaken der Israeliten".
Late in the 18th century Dutch authorities required that Jews learn to read and write Dutch. In 1808 the law demanded that all of the congregation rabbis be natives of Holland or at least senior inhabitants. As part of this trend the "High Commission for Jewish Affairs" in Holland awarded this medal for the "best sermon in the Dutch language".
Diameter: 57 mm.
Literature: Joodse Penningen in de Nederlanden, Dr. Arthur Polak, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman, 1958, no. 21.