Hanukkah Stamps

In 2022, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates the joyous jewish holiday of Hanukkah with a stamp

The stamp art features an original wallhanging. The fiber art was hand-dyed, appligued, and quilted to form an abstract imageof a hanukiah, the nine-branch candelabra used only at Hanukkah. The blue and purple fabrics represent the sky, and thegreens and browns represent the earth. The bright yellows and oranges represent the Festival of Lights, as Hanukkah is also

known.

Hanukkah means "dedication" in Hebrew. The story of Hanukkah begins with the victory of the Maccabees, an army of Jewishfighters, over the forces of the Hellenic emperor Antiochus lV, whose supporters had desecrated the Temple in jerusalem bybuilding an altar to the Greek god Zeus. After reclaiming the Temple and preparing to rededicate the holy space, theworshippers discovered that only one small iar of consecrated oil remained, enough to last one dav, Rather than wait for moreoil to arrive, they re-lit the Temple menorah, which miraculously burned for eight days.

The miracle of the oilis celebrated during Hanukkah with the ceremonial lighting of the hanukiah. The hanukiah holds eightcandles, one for each night of Hanukkah, and the shamash, the servant or helper cangle used to ight the others. The canglfor the first night is put on the far right side of the menorah. On each subsequent night, an additional candle is placed to theimmediate left of the previous night's candle. The candles are lit from lef to right, so that the lighting begins with the newesicandle. Families might recite blessings each nioht, one before the iahting and one as the candles are lit; a third blessing,Known as the Shehecheyanu, is recited only on the first night of Hanukkah, as it is on other special family occasions. Somefamilies take this opportunity to explain more about their heritage and the symbolism behind the ritual.

Two of the favorite Hanukkah foods recall the miracle of the oil. Latkes-fried potato pancakes are a particular favorite, asare doughnuts called sufganiyot. Some recipes have been handed down for generations, and the preparation of the foodsduring the holidays is frequently a family affair.

Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, a date that falls in late November or December. in 2022Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 18.

Jeanette Kuvin Oren was the stamp designer and artist. Ethel Kessler was the art director.Hanukkah is being issued in panes of 20 Forever@ stamps. This Forever stamp wil always be equal in value to the curreniFirst-Class Mail® one-ounce price.

Made in the USA