אות המעפיל

The Ma'apilim Badge [אות המעפיל] is an Israeli decoration awarded by the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage to those who immigrated to the Land of Israel through “illegal immigration,” in defiance of the British government’s directives during the British Mandate for Palestine, by sea, land, or air between 1934 and 1948 (in practice, the badge was also awarded to people who immigrated in earlier years during the British Mandate).

The badge depicts a pair of hands clutching barbed wire in order to tear it and break through the blockade at the gates of the country. Between the hands is a red anemone, which symbolizes those who fell in the struggle to immigrate to the country, and also symbolizes the “Kalaniot,” the British paratroopers who prevented the Ma'apilim from immigrating during the British Mandate in the Land of Israel. In the background is the silhouette of the immigrant ship Exodus. Above the hands is the inscription “They presumed to go up.” The entire design is set against a white background. The badge was designed by Moti Amit in 2019. The idea for the badge was conceived by Dr. Zvi Hatkavitz, a member of the Exodus heritage preservation team.