Bidspirit auction | Palestine - Charity Token “BeTzedaka
Palestine - Charity Token “BeTzedaka Tikonani” - Syria - Late 19th / Early 20th Century - Metal charity token, believed to have been issued by a Jewish community in Syria during the late 19th or early 20th century. At the center appears the number 101, whose numerical value (gematria) equals the name of the archangel Michael — traditionally associated in Jewish mysticism with charity, mercy, and divine protection. On both sides of the token appear the Hebrew letters ב׳ and כ׳, referring to the biblical verse: “BeTzedaka Tikonani” – “In righteousness shall you be established” (Isaiah 54:14) Such tokens were typically used by Jewish charitable institutions for managing donations, distributing aid, or internal transactions within community benevolence organizations. This piece beautifully reflects the spiritual and communal life of Middle Eastern Jewry, blending faith, symbolism, and organized charity