From Israel Post, October 9th:

Israel–USA Joint Issue – Happy Hanukkah

[Issue date: October 16, 2018, same as the U.S. version. Details on the U.S. version are here.]

Just 11 minutes after Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948, American President Harry S. Truman recognized the new State. This action marked the beginning of a relationship based on common values and characterized by a deep friendship and mutual respect.

The special relationship between Israel and the United States is a key element in Israel’s political strength and power. This relationship also has strategic significance for the State of Israel.

In the early 1980’s, Israel was considered to be a strategic asset for the United States and was noted as such (1987) in legislation passed a year earlier as its main non-NATO ally.

The friendship between Israel and the United States is bolstered by the supportive American Jewish community and large portions of the American people.

The Hanukkah festival marks the Maccabean victory over their enemies – the Hellenistic monarchy of the House of Seleucus, as well as the miracle that took place in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. It is customary to light candles on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, setting them near the entrance to the home in order to make the miracle known.

In the year 167 BCE the Hellenistic king Antiochus IV forbade the Jewish residents of Eretz Israel to study the Torah and to perform the Jewish mitzvahs. Mattathias the Hasmonean and his sons led the people’s revolt against the cruel regime, and after harsh battles successfully freed Jerusalem and the Temple.

The Babylonian Talmud (tractate Shabbat 21:2) describes how the Maccabees found only one small cruse of pure oil, enough to light the Temple menorah for just one day. But a miracle occurred and the oil lasted for eight days, until more pure oil could be prepared. In honor of that miracle, it was determined that the festival would last eight days. For the Jewish people, the Hanukkah candles symbolize the victory of good over evil and of justice over injustice.

According to the USPS, the Israeli cancellation measures 1.25″x1.27″. —VSC

Israel issues stamps on April 9th celebrating 70 years of independence, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), 70 years of civil aviation (El Al Airlines), Memorial Day and Spring Flowers. There is also another locomotive postage label. Click on the hyperlinks above for more details and larger pictures.

These stamps and the souvenir sheet will be issued April 9th. From Israel Post: The issue “reflects that season and the element of revival.

“The flora of Israel includes some 2700 species, more than half of which bloom in the spring. The springtime conditions suit and encourage the development of flowers as well as the plethora of insects that visit them. Spring flowers come in different sizes, colors, shapes and scents. Their characteristics attract different insects. Competition among flowers during this blossoming season leads to the evolution of different shapes and colors.”

This stamp will be issued April 9th. From Israel Post:

“The history of EL AL is intertwined with that of the State of Israel, the company was officially founded in 1949, but in fact its first flight took off in September 1948, flying President Chaim Weizmann from Geneva to Israel. The Swiss would not allow military aircraft to land in their territory, thus the company quickly turned a DC-4 Skymaster into a civilian plane. This plane, which opened the era of EL AL’s civilian flights, was called “Rehovot”. The establishment of an Israeli airline was significant not only as a business endeavor but as a means of contact among the Jewish towns in Eretz Israel and their defense.:

These stamps will be issued April 9th. From Israel Post:

“Over the years, the IDF has become more professionalized and developed more organizational specialties. One of the ways in which the military expresses its appreciation for this uniqueness and specialization is through different colored berets, allowing soldiers to demonstrate that they belong to a specific branch or unit. This trend, which began in the mid-1970’s, has gained momentum over the years, as the IDF has formed more and more special frameworks and we salute him in that stamp.”

This stamp will be issued April 9th. From Israel Post:

“The letter card, cover and stamp – all of which are special and unique to Memorial Day – constitute the basis of a sensitive, original and extraordinary tradition that came into being following the War of Independence.”

This stamp will be issued April 9, 2018. From Israel Post:

“Today, as it celebrates 70 years of independence, Israel is a developed country with a strong economy and high quality of life, the life expectancy of its residents is among the highest in the world and its political standing is stronger than ever. The State of Israel looks forward with a sense of hope and security and with faith in its ability to continue to strengthen the momentum of its achievements for an even better future.”

This stamp will be issued February 6. From Israel Post:

The Gevatron – 70 Years

The Gevatron Chorus was founded in 1948 by a group of young people from Kibbutz Kvutzat Geva in the Jezreel Valley to perform at the dedication ceremony for a new basketball court.

When asked “How did the group come into being?” one of the original members replied, “We used to sing together in the granary”, uniting, strengthening singing that causes one to forget the poverty and the difficulty of daily life.

The group’s name, the Gevatron, was reminiscent of the popular Palmach troupe the Chizbatron (which is also being honored with a stamp). To this day, members of the chorus come from Kibbutz Geva or from nearby kibbutzim Beit HaShita and Kfar HaHoresh, the towns of Moledet, Kfar Tavor and Tamrat, and the city of Afula. Participants are all Volunteers.

At first, the troupe only appeared at Kvutzat Geva and in the surrounding area, performing songs about kibbutz life. Composer Nachum Heiman began working with the chorus in 1961 and diversified its repertoire. The group was initially accompanied by an accordion player and later by a number of musicians. Various musical arrangers worked with the troupe after Heiman, including Haim Agmon, Dov Carmel, Zvika Caspi and Ilan Gilboa, who has served as the chorus’ musical director for the past 28 years.

The Gevatron has a rich repertoire, comprised of songs written especially for the troupe as well as its own versions of familiar Israeli songs. The troupe is mostly identified with “songs of the homeland” and songs about settling the country, although it has recorded numerous styles and arrangements. Some of its most well known songs are: Yam Hashibolim (Sea of Grain Stalks), Emek Sheli (My Valley), Gvanim (Color Shades), Nitsanim Niru Ba’aretz (Flowers Appeared in the Land), El Borot Hamayim (To the Cisterns), Or Ve’Yerushalayim (Light and Jerusalem), Ha’Hita Zomachat Shuv (The Wheat Sprouts Again) and Bat Shishim (At Sixty).

Throughout most of its existence, the troupe was led by Rina Firstenberg, who took the managerial duties upon herself. The height of the troupe’s success came in the 1970’s and 1980’s, when it performed extensively in Israel and abroad, mostly on a volunteer basis.

On Independence Day 2007, the Gevatron was awarded the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement and contribution to the State of Israel.

—The Gevatron

Description of the Stamp
The stamp design was inspired by a Gevatron album cover designed by and courtesy of Menachem Lasky. The stamp tab features a quote from the song Yam Hashibolim (Sea of Grain Stalks). Lyrics: YItzchak Kinan, Music: Haim Agmon.

This stamp will be issued February 6. From Israel Post:

Ha’Chizbatron – 70 Years

Ha’Chizbatron – The Palmach Troupe 1948-1950
“The Chizbatron Troupe was established from within the Palmach during Israel’s War of Independence and accompanied the paupers’ army that arose from the underground organizations to face intense war”, said poet Haim Gouri.

[The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Israeli community during the British Mandate post World War II. —VSC]

Poet Haim Hefer, a veteran of the Palmach, knew and understood that the soldiers desperately needed a respite between the fierce battles. He knew of the Red Army military bands and the role they played during WWII and thought to establish such a band in Israel as well. He asked Palmach commander Yigal Alon for a budget of 10 GBP to purchase an accordion. Alon liked the idea and provided the requested funds. Thus began this important and successful troupe, which left its mark on musical masterpieces for generations to come.

The first production included improvised skits and foreign melodies to which Haim Hefer added well written texts. Shaike Ophir and Naomi Polany were recruited from among the Palmach ranks, accompanied by Yoel Zilber on the accordion. The Negev desert area was under siege at that time, and was accessible only via air. The troupe flew south and went from post to post, where they were received very warmly. While en route to Kibbutz Be’eri, the troupe’s truck drove over a landmine. Troupe member Ohela Halevy was seriously injured and recognized as an IDF disabled veteran. This event of course changed things and it was necessary to reorganize and even write new material. Director Shmuel Bunim came into the picture and new troupe members were recruited.

Hefer wrote lyrics for melodies by Sasha Argov, Moshe Wilinsky, Parshko and David Zehavi.

The Chizbatron’s most well known songs included: Hare’ut (The Friendship), Hayu Zmanim (There were Times), Hen Efshar (Yes, it’s Possible), Hey Ha’Jeep (Hey, the Jeep), Hakol Inyan Shel Ofi (It’s all a Matter of Character) and more.

The Chizbatron staged four productions during its military tenure and a fifth as a civilian theater. Shaike Ophir did not participate in the fifth production, because he left to study mime under Marcel Marceau in Paris. His absence was felt immediately and the fifth production was not popular among audiences, despite its high level material (which may have been overly political).

Some Chizbatron members went on to study at the Cameri Theater acting school and others returned to their private lives. We were left with wonderful memories which we carry with us to this day. Today there are only three living former Chizbatron members: Naomi Polani, Shlomo Bar-Shavit and Rivkaleh Kramer. We continue to meet monthly to reminisce.

— Rivkaleh Kramer

Description of the Stamp and First Day Cover
The stamp and first day cover feature a photo of the Chizbatron members performing in a tent. Courtesy of: the Palmach Museum. Part of a drawing by Arie Navon appears on the stamp, from the Israeli Museum of Caricature and Comics, Holon, courtesy of the family. The Palmach insignia is also featured.

This stamp will be issued February 6. From Israel Post:

WWI in Eretz Israel Centenary – The Indian Cavalry, Haifa (1918)

When WWI broke out in August 1914, the Ottoman Empire formed an alliance with the Central Powers (Germany and Austria) against the Allies (Britain, France and Russia). The Great War, as it was known at the time, went on for more than four years and fundamentally changed world history in general and the situation in Eretz Israel in particular.

In early 1918, after an offensive in which the British conquered the southern part of Eretz Israel from the Ottoman army, the frontline between the two forces was drawn along the Abu Tellul ridge. Both armies were exhausted from their strenuous efforts during the previous several months. They were in need of a respite in order to regroup and renew equipment and supplies. Some of the British troops were transferred to the Western Front in Europe, and military forces from India were sent to Eretz Israel to replace them. The large British offensive to conquer the northern part of Eretz Israel began on September 19, 1918. British and Indian forces broke through the Turkish line near the Poleg River and proceeded rapidly northward along the coastal plain. By evening, the attackers reached the Tul Karem area, the next day they captured Afula and Nazareth and on September 21st British aircraft attacked the retreating Turks in northern Samaria, inflicting many casualties.

The British route of attack did not include Haifa, and conquering the city was not part of the plan at that stage. However, on September 22nd an erroneous report was received advising that the Turks had abandoned the city. When they attempted to enter the city, the British were met with fierce resistance and barely succeeded in extracting their troops. Following this failure, the Indian 5th Cavalry Regiment was ordered to conquer Haifa. On the morning of the 23rd the Ramchi Jodphur battalion began progressing toward Haifa, but was not able to achieve its goal. At 2:00 pm another battalion, commanded by Major Takhur Dalfat Singh was assigned the task. The battalion’s cavalrymen bravely charged the Turks’ machine gun positions, subdued them and successfully conquered Haifa. Major Dalfat Singh, who was killed during the attack, was posthumously called “The Hero of Haifa”. This battle is considered by the Indian military to be one of the cornerstones of its military history, and it is marked annually with ceremonies throughout India.

In the following days, the British continued their progress northward, which was concluded on September 30th, with the capture of Damascus. A short time thereafter the Ottoman Empire conceded, thus ending WWI on the Eastern Front.

Description of the Stamp and the First Day Cover
The stamp features an Indian cavalryman (Library of Congress, from photos of the American Colony in Jerusalem) against the background of the Indian Cavalry battalion in the streets of lower Haifa (Imperial War Museum). The tab features the insignia of the Indian army’s Ramchi Jodphur battalion.

The first day cover features a photo of the monument erected in the British Military Cemetery in Haifa in memory of the Indian soldiers who fell during WWI. The background features a British military map depicting the battle moves for capturing the Haifa area in September 1918. Photo: National Library of Israel.

Production of the WWI in Eretz Israel Centenary stamp series is aided by The Society for the Heritage of World War I in Israel, which researches the events of the war, publishes books on the subject and hosts conferences and tours for members of the society and the general public.