Heichal Wolyn Memorial Medal
1974
caption:
Around the upper rim: “HEICHAL WOLYN ISRAEL 1969”. Upper center: The Heichal structure shaped like a sarcophagus resting on four heavy pillars. The lower half of the medal is predominated with a powerful prophetic figure in motion. This stylized figure also symbolizes the eternal wandering Jew, with a strong stern facial expression and his hands in motion, insinuating three basic directions. He is looking to the left, where an inscription “In Memory of Wolyn Jewry” is vanishing to a point beyond the medal. His left hand, with a powerful index finger, is outstretched to the right vanishing point. Below, an inscription in English: “REMEMBER”, and Hebrew “רובז” (Z’CHOR). The message is evident: “To remember and never to forget”. The right hand is pointed to the top – heaven, a plea to G-d. Below: “1939-1944”, refers to the dreadful years of World War II. The initials KW; sculptress Karen Worth.
Identifer: CJF-RFC2013143
Medium
Bronze;Silver
Topics
Destroyed Communities
Collection
Holocaust Medals, Plaques, Tokens & Pins
Description
This medal is full of symbols and hidden meanings, numerology and insinuations, motions and Kabalistic interpretations. It tends to leave many unanswered questions, and food for thought. The spiral continues nonetheless, beyond the medal, since there are so many more names…The vanishing points and directions to G-d too, extend indefinitely beyond the medal, which accidentally is limited to a small circle.
The names were intentionally scrambled in a non-alphabetical order, so that the viewed, while looking for his town, would have to read and remember other names as well. Turning the medal to read the spiral, one’s head will advertently start to turn, interjecting a dizzy (vortex) mood. This was done intentionally; as this is not a medal of a happy event, but marks a somber, very sad, and dark period in Man’s history.
It is interesting to note that both the sculptress and designer are descendents from Wolyn.
This medal is listed in Hafner, Sylvia, (1978) Judaic Tokens and Medals, American Israel Numismatic Association, Inc., See medal HO – 7, pages 83 & 86.
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