Identifer: CJF-RFC2015191

Medium
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Description
This medal was issued as part of the Historical Cities of Israel Medals which were issued by the Israel Government Coins & Medals Corporation to commemorate the Historical Cities of Israel.  They were issued from 1965-1966.  They were all issued in Silver and Yellow Bronze ( also known as tombac) with one medal struck in gold.
 
This medal is 45mm with a mintage of 8,076.
 
 
Tiberias was founded in 19 C.E. on the ruins of a bilbical city from the days of the tribe of Naftali.  It was an important spiritual center in the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods, and the last seat of the Sanhedrin.  The Mishna and the Jerusalem Talmud were completed in Tiberias and it became a focal point for the Hebrew language.
 
After the Arab conquest in 636 C.E. it became the capital of the Galilee.  IN 1099 the Crusaders conquered it but after 87 years it fell again into Moslem hands and was destroyed.  In 1560 Suleiman the Great turned over the city to Josef Hanasi who rebuilt its walls.  Tiberias became a center and sanctuary to exiles from Spain, many of whom flourished here.