RABBI YITZHAK KADURI (c.1898 – 2006)
Official Medal, 2011/5771
6th in the "Jewish Sages" Series.
Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri was born in Baghdad, Iraq. His father, Rabbi Ze'ev Diba, a spice trader, sent him to study at the Zilka Yeshiva (Academy of Jewish learning) of Baghdad. There, he learned with the renowned Jewish scholars of the city and became acquainted with the Ben Ish Chai (Rabbi Joseph Haim of Baghdad, who is also commemorated on a medal in this series).
At age 17, Rabbi Kaduri was already recognized as a prodigy; he knew the Talmud (the Oral Law) and its rulings by heart, and he was able to present his teachings before the greatest scholars of the time.
At 24, he made aliyah to Israel and studied in the Porat Yosef Yeshivah in the Old City of Jerusalem. The invading Jordanian Army destroyed the Yeshivah building, during the 1948 War of Independence. Rabbi Kaduri then moved to the Beit El Kabbalists' Yeshiva. He resided in the Bucharim neighborhood of Jerusalem and earned his living as a bookbinder. Later, he became head of the Nahalat Yitzhak Kabbalists' Yeshiva and High Court, which was founded by his son and successor, Rabbi David Kaduri, in the name of his father, Yitzhak.
Rabbi Kaduri excelled in his modesty, simplicity, love of people and in his readiness to reach out to and bless any person, whether secular or religious, laborer or business man, child or elderly. He would receive everybody equally, with warmth and love. Thousands would come to him for his blessings, including Cabinet Ministers, Executive Officers and other personalities. Many are witnesses of how Rabbi Kaduri's blessings materialized.
To help those who needed to succeed, or as encouragement and support for those who were suffering physically or mentally, Rabbi Kaduri would create amulets, in which he would incorporate blessings, based on a tradition described in the Talmud and Kabbalah. He always emphasized, however, that study of the Kabbalah was only for those who were learned in Judaism.
Rabbi Kaduri passed away at a good age of over 100. Hundreds of thousands attended his funeral and many thousands continue to pray at his graveside, in Jerusalem.
In honor of Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri, at the fifth anniversary of his death, a medal is issued. The medal depicts Rabbi Kaduri, holding a holy book and blessing a child, while placing his right hand on the child's head. Incised beneath his right shoulder, in his own hand-writing, are the two Hebrew words "Braha VeHatzlaha", meaning "Blessing and Success", with which he would bless the people. |
Obverse: |
| Rabbi Kaduri, holding a Holy Book and blessing a child, placing his right hand on the child's head. Incised beneath his right shoulder, in his own hand-writing, are the two Hebrew words "Braha VeHatzlaha", meaning "Blessing and Success", with which he would bless the people. |
Reverse: |
| The medal reverse, common to all the medals in the series, represents the wisdom and holiness of our Jewish Sages. |
Edge: |
Bronze medal: Milled.
Silver and Gold medals: Smooth. |
Designer: |
| Aharon Shevo. |
Engraving: |
Mint: |
Romania.
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Gold Medal: ICMC Mint.
Silver and Bronze Medals: Romania. |
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