I collect (American) Judaic lapel buttons.
I have approximately 3000 unique items. Each one represents a different moment in the American Jewish experience.
Periodically I share them here.
As the “Che franchise” continues to grow, few other culture heroes (meant metaphorically) seem able to compete for public attention. Back in the late ’60s and early ’70s it was not uncommon, however, to see posters of a wide variety of cultural icons on student walls, both political leaders, entertainment figures and even intellectual giants. We even saw people wearing buttons with some of the same images on their lapels. Or maybe I simply don’t get around much any more.
One figure whose image rose high at the beginning of the century in Jewish circles became quite an icon. (From Die Bucher Der Bibel, illustrated by E. M. Lillien.)
Herzl as Moses by E. M. Lillien
Now, he is almost a figure of derision. (Seen spray-painted on the wall of an apartment building on Ibn Gabirol Street in Tel Aviv in March of 2009; the text reads: “on the other hand, if you don’t will it, no big thing…”)
Herzl stencil spray painted on a wall in Tel Aviv 2009
Nonetheless, today, the 10th of Iyyar (י אייר) on his birthday, I honor Theodor Herzl the inventor of Political Zionism.
It is hard to imagine that sometime as early as the 1920s someone would have walked the streets of America wearing this button.
| Date: | 1920s? |
| Size: | 1.3 |
| Pin Form: | straight |
| Print Method: | celluloid |
| Text | [none] |
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