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Published March 14, 2014 Updated June 22, 2022

Jewish Card Game

Judaism is the oldest of the great monotheist religions, parent of Christianity and Islam.

1950 Argentina Domicelj Vigor Religion Quartet Add to Collection

A Jewish Quartet Game, c.1950

"Some seek wealth;
others health and fitness;
yet others crave name and fame:
but the wise prepare their destinies,
before night-time arrives"

Moses Maimonides of Cordova (1135-1204)

Judaism is the oldest of the great monotheist religions, parent of Christianity and Islam. The Law of Moses - the Torah - was divinely revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai soon after the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Judah Halevi of Toledo (c.1085-c.1140) and Moses Maimonides of Cordova (1135-1204) were great Jewish philosophers and are depicted on these cards. Also featured is Theodor Herzl (1860-1904), the founder of political Zionism, as well as other benefactors who founded Palestine Jewish colonies within Argentina.

Jewish Quartet Game, Buenos Aires c.1950 Jewish Quartet Game, Buenos Aires c.1950 Jewish Quartet Game, Buenos Aires c.1950 Jewish Quartet Game, Buenos Aires c.1950 Jewish Quartet Game, Buenos Aires c.1950

Above: 48 cards divided into 12 sets of 4 cards, probably manufactured by Igor Domicelj, Buenos Aires, c.1950. Printed in black and red, with a blue six-pointed star motif on the reverse.

Argentina's well-established Jewish community today numbers 300,000; their immigration began around 1890, from Russia, Poland, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Africa. Ninety percent of them now live in Buenos Aires. Essentially a social and family religion, Judaism concerns itself with the observances of every aspect of daily life. Among festivals are Passover, recalling the Exodus; Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year); Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) and Chanukah, celebrating the victory against the Syrians under their leader Judas Maccabeus.

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.


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