Hanukka Lamp from Tunisia
Hanukka Coin, 1988/5759

The Tunisian Jewish community is one of the most ancient of the Diaspora communities. Jewish settlement there may date from as early as the 10th century B.C.E. After Roman conquest in 146 B.C.E., the community was enlarged by Jews from Rome, Judaea and Cyrenaica. When the Arabs conquered North Africa, they found flourishing Jewish communities, such as those at Kairouan and Gabes. In 1956, there were about 105,000 Jews living in Tunisia. At the end of the 80's, there were fewer than 2,500. About 50,000 Tunisian Jews emigrated to Israel and about the same number to France. In Tunis, it was customary to hang the Hanukka Lamp on the wall opposite the Mezuza, near the front door of the house, where it was left until Purim in order to connect between the two miracles.

Obverse:
Face value in Hebrew and English, "1 New Sheqel" on the Silver B.U. Coin; "2 New Sheqalim" on the Silver Proof Coin, the Israel State emblem, mint year, 1988 / 5749 and "ISRAEL" in Hebrew, English and Arabic.

Reverse:
19th century Hanukka Lamp from Tunisia (Israel Museum Collection) and below it, in Hebrew, "Hanukka Lamp from Tunisia 19th century".

Edge:
B.U. Coin - Smooth
Proof Coin - Milled.

Mint Marks:
Beneath the mint year:
Silver B.U. Coin - Star David
Silver Proof Coin - Hebrew letter "Mem"

Designer:
Naomi and Meir Eshel
Plaster models - Tidhar Dagan

Mint:
Royal Dutch Mint