Updated August 1st: Missed by most of us the first time around is the passing mention in the first sentence: This will be a joint issue with Israel.

The Virtual Stamp Club obtained a copy of the Israeli stamp design on October 9th, and it is virtually the same. Details and illustrations are here.

Announced by the USPS on July 24th:

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated with a new stamp issued jointly with Israel Post. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C. after it was reclaimed from armies that desecrated the sanctuary. Tradition relates that during the Temple rededication — Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for “dedication” — the sacramental oil needed to light the lamps was enough to burn for only one day; miraculously, it burned for eight days until new oil could be pressed. To commemorate this story, celebrations include the ritual lighting of the hanukiah, the nine-branched menorah used only during Hanukkah. Eight branches hold candles representing each of the eight nights and days of Hanukkah; the ninth, the shamash or “servant,” is used to light the other candles.

The stamp features a Hanukkah menorah created using Jewish folk art papercutting techniques. Artist Tamar Fishman made a pencil sketch of the design, then cut the two-dimensional image on white paper with a fine blade. She chose blue-purple and green papers for the background to highlight the central design. Behind the menorah is a shape reminiscent of an ancient oil jug that represents the heart of the Hanukkah miracle. Additional design elements include dreidels — spinning tops used to play a children’s game during the holiday — and a pomegranate plant with fruit and flowers.

Hanukkah is a family-centered holiday, with celebrations taking place in people’s homes. Games, songs, gifts and food all contribute to making the holiday festive and fun for family and friends.

Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, a date that falls in late November or December. In 2018, Hanukkah begins at sundown Dec 2.

Art director Ethel Kessler was the designer. Tamar Fishman created the original art for the stamp.

Updated July 26th:
This stamp will be issued October 16th in Newport, RI, where the first synagogue in America was founded (and still exists).

Updated September 13th:
On October 16, 2018, in Newport, RI, the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Hanukkah 2018 stamp (Forever® priced at the First-Class Mail rate) in one design, in a pressure-sensitive adhesive pane of 20 stamps (Item 565600). The stamp will go on sale nationwide October 16, 2018, and must not be sold or cancelled before the first-day-of-issue.

The U.S. Postal Service and Israel Post join together to celebrate Hanukkah, a joyous Jewish holiday. The stamp features a papercut design of a 9-branch menorah used during the holiday. Drawing on Jewish papercutting traditions, the artist based her design on Hanukkah themes and references from ancient texts. Behind the menorah, the artist cut a design reminiscent of the shape of an ancient oil jug to represent the heart of the Hanukkah miracle. Meant to last one day, the sacred oil burned for eight. On each side of the design are two broken oil jugs and two dreidels — spinning tops used in the modern Hanukkah game. The plant twining along the sides is a pomegranate; both the flowers and the fruit are seen in the twisting branches. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Tamar Fishman.

Availability to Post Offices: Item 565600, Hanukkah 2018 (Forever Priced at the First-Class Mail Rate) Commemorative Pane of 20 Stamps

Stamp Fulfillment Services will make an automatic push distribution to Post Offices of a quantity to cover approximately 30 days of sales.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark:
Customers have 120 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™ or at The Postal Store® website at usps.com/shop. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

FDOI – Hanukkah 2018 Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by February 16, 2019.

Technical Specifications:

Issue: Hanukkah 2018 Stamp
Item Number: 565600
Denomination & Type of Issue: First-Class Mail Forever
Format: Pane of 20 (1 design)
Series: Holiday Celebrations
Issue Date & City: October 16, 2018, Newport, RI 02840
Art Director: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Designer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Typographer: Ethel Kessler, Bethesda, MD
Artist: Tamar Fishman, Bethesda, MD
Modeler: Sandra Lane/Michelle Finn
Manufacturing Process: Offset, Microprint
Printer: Banknote Corporation of America
Press Type: Alprinta 74
Stamps per Pane: 20
Print Quantity: 12,000,000 stamps
Paper Type: Phosphor Tagged Paper Overall
Adhesive Type: Pressure-sensitive
Processed at: Banknote Corporation of America
Colors: Pantone 316, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
Stamp Orientation: Vertical
Image Area (w x h): 0.77 x 1.05 in/19.558 x 26.67 mm
Overall Size (w x h): 0.91 x 1.19 in/23.114 x 30.226 mm
Full Pane Size (w x h): 5.425 x 5.875 in/137.795 x 149.225 mm
Press Sheet Size (w x h): 16.275 x 11.75 in/413.39 x 298.45 mm
Plate Size: 240 stamps per revolution
Plate Numbers: “B” followed by five (5) digits
Marginal Markings:
Front: Header: HAPPY HANUKKAH • Footer: Issued Jointly with Israel • Plate numbers in bottom corners
Back: ©2018 USPS • USPS logo • Two barcodes (565600) • Plate position diagram • Promotional text

Added September 17th: Here are the first-day postmarks for this issue:The Digital Color Postmark measures 2.58″x1.41″ The B&W pictorial postmark measures 2.03″x1.43″

Updated October 10th:
USPS Cancellation Services will have the Israeli pictorial postmark (shown on the right) available and advises it measures 1.25″x1.27″. It adds, “The USPS will have the Israel postage available for purchase on or before 10/16/18.” More information from Israel Post can be found here.

[press release]
Postal Service and Israel Post to Jointly Dedicate Hanukkah Stamps

What: The U.S. Postal Service will be issuing a new Hanukkah Forever stamp to celebrate the Jewish holiday. The stamp will be dedicated in conjunction with a new stamp being issued by Israel Post. News about the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #HanukkahStamps

Who: Judge Gary Shapiro, Judicial Officer, U.S. Postal Service

When:
Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018, 11 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time

Where:
Touro Synagogue
85 Touro Street
Newport, RI 02840

Followers of the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook page can view the ceremony live atfacebook.com/USPS.

RSVP:
Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at usps.com/hanukkahstamps to gain entrance to the event.

Background: The new Hanukkah stamp artwork features a menorah created using the techniques of the traditional Jewish folk art of papercutting. Artist Tamar Fishman made a pencil sketch of the design and then with a fine blade, cut the two-dimensional image on white paper. She chose blue-purple and green papers for the background to highlight the central design. Behind the menorah is a shape reminiscent of an ancient oil jug that represents the heart of Hanukkah. Additional design elements include dreidels — spinning tops used to play a children’s game during the holiday — and a pomegranate plant with fruit and flowers.

Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp. As a Forever stamp, Hanukkah will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, a date that falls in late November or December. In 2018, Hanukkah begins at sundown Dec. 2.

Updated October 23rd, from the USPS:
The Israel postage is now on sale. The item number is 801217. It is only being sold in a pane of 15 for $35.00. FDC services should note that the Israeli stamp is larger than the U.S. one.