Mel Wacks and Joel Iskowitz Talks Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month

May has been proclaimed Jewish American Heritage by every President from George W. Bush to Joseph Biden. On May 23 at 2 PM Eastern Time, Mel Wacks, President Emeritus of AINA and Director of the Jewish-American Hall of Fame will present a lecture via Zoom on He will be followed by Joel Iskowitz, longtime participant in the U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program, where Joel designed over 50 coins and medals; he will talk about

To join Zoom meeting, sponsored by the American Israel Numismatic Association (AINA), use the following link or the information that follows:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89743066171?pwd=d28xcmZWK0NUd1RSMEJiZVNKZFpxZz09

Meeting ID: 897 4306 6171
Passcode: TheShekel
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,89743066171#,,,,*550333763#

Mel's illustrated talk will begin with the earliest known Jewish American medal, created in 1784 by the colonial silversmith Myer Myers to celebrate a circumcision. The talk will conclude with a dollar in the American Innovation dollar series - issued this year - commemorating the inventor of the first video game console (Odyssey), Ralph Baer.

Joel has felt a particular tie with the early 20th century medalist Victor David Brenner, particularly in that Brenner designed the first Lincoln Cent in 1909, while Iskowitz designed the

For further information on AINA, visit www.TheShekel.org

For further information about the Jewish-American Hall of Fame, visit www.amuseum.org/jahf/

For further information on Iskowitz' Lincoln Cent design, visit https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/lincoln-bicentennial-one-cent-coins/professional-life-in-illinois