On reverse: Laurel encloses 4-line Hebrew quotation from the Prophet Zechariah, "Not through strength and not through power says the Lord of Hosts."
The design must have raised eyebrows in its day, as its use of realistic portraiture was contrary to Orthodox tradition. The medal exemplifies the Haskalah or Enlightenment movement of Eastern Europe that sought to harmonize religious law and custom with the modern world.
Yiddish text: Mendel (a potential convert): “Please tell me, Ivan Ivanovich, what should I wear to my baptism?” Ivan Ivanovich: “I really couldn’t tell you, we generally wear a diaper!”
