| Emblem of Jerusalem | |
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Emblem of Jerusalem |
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Coat of arms of the Medieval Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, featuring the Jerusalem cross |
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| Details | |
| Adopted | 1950 |
The emblem of Jerusalem was designed in 1950-51 by Eliyahu Koren, the founding director of the Jewish National Fund's graphics department[1] and, later, an influential typeface and book designer.[2] The lion, shown rampant, represents the lion of Judah, the background represents the Western Wall, and the olive branch represents peace. The inscription above the crest is the Hebrew word for Jerusalem (yerushalayim).
Shortly after the founding of the state of Israel, in 1948, Gershon Agron asked Eliyahu Koren to commission an emblem for the city of Jerusalem. Agron proposed a design competition among all the graphic designers of the country. The requirements were that the emblem include the Western Wall, the lion, and the olive branch. The competition was held, but in the end only Koren's own design was acceptable to the city committee.[3]