Israel Christmas ATM FDC

Israel ATM FDC
Name: Christmas
Date of Issue: 26 November 2009

2009 Christmas FDCs:
Estonia, Israel, Lithuania.

2008 Christmas FDCs:
Canada: The Nativity, Canada: Winter Fun, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania.

2007 Christmas FDCs:
Estonia, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Lithuania, Ukraine, Vatican.

Israel Lighthouses FDC

Israel FDC
Name: Lighthouses in Israel
Date of Issue: 26 November 2009
Number: 832

The Hebrew word for lighthouse - "migdalor" – is comprised of two words: "migdal" (tower) and "or" (light), indicating structures that are usually tall and equipped with devices that emit light, either steadily or cyclically.

Lighthouses serve as navigational aides for ships sailing near the shoreline. Some are built at hazardous locations, adjacent to rocky cliffs or sandbars, in order to warn ships against approaching too closely. Others are built near ports to mark the way for ships coming in to dock.

In olden times lighthouses were lit by burning wood, oil or coal but since the late 19th century most have been refitted to work on gas and electricity.

Although the use of advanced navigational tools has made most lighthouses obsolete, many continue to serve as tourist attractions and landmarks.

The stamps in the series depict three of the lighthouses built along Israel's southern Mediterranean coastline:

Denominations:
4.60 שח: Jaffa
This 29-meter high lighthouse is built on a hilltop poised above the Jaffa Port. The Jaffa lighthouse was initially erected in 1865 as part of operations carried out by Turkish authorities to improve the port facilities. The structure appearing on the stamp was built by the British in 1936. The lighthouse's identifying mark was four white flashes, emitted every 14 seconds. The rocks along the Jaffa shore did not allow ships to enter the port, thus passengers and cargo were offloaded at sea and transported to shore in small row boats, such as that appearing on the stamp to the right of the lighthouse.

6.70 שח: Tel-Aviv
This lighthouse was built in the 1930's on the beach to the north of Tel-Aviv, adjacent to the Yarkon Estuary in order to warn ships against approaching the shore, where sandbars were located. The 20-meter high lighthouse served the Tel-Aviv Port as well as the adjacent electricity plant harbor.
The lighthouse's identifying mark was two flashes (one long and one short), emitted every seven seconds.

On 15 May, 1936 approval was received to operate a Hebrew port in Tel-Aviv. Four days later the first cargo ship to arrive at the makeshift port was unloaded. Sacks of cement were offloaded at sea and transported to shore in small boats. The porters, excited to be taking part in this historic event, expressed their joy by dancing a rousing Hora.

8.80 שח: Ashdod
This 76-meter high lighthouse is built atop Tel Yona, near the Ashdod Port. It was erected in the 1960's as part of the construction of the port facilities. The lighthouse's identifying mark was three white flashes, emitted every 20 seconds.

Ashdod Port is Israel's largest sea port. It is a modern facility, equipped with huge cranes and is capable of handling large cargo ships quickly and efficiently.

Description of the Stamps and the First Day Cover
Jaffa stamp – photograph of rowers in a boat, Tel-Aviv Municipal Archives
Tel-Aviv stamp – photograph of porters dancing, Jewish National Fund Archives
Ashdod stamp – photograph of a docked ship, Ashdod Port Company
Tabs – photographs by Dreamstime
Envelope – photograph of the Tel-Aviv lighthouse and its surroundings, Israel Electric Corporation Archives

Israel Archeology FDCs

Israel FDCs
Name: Maritime Archeology in Israel
Date of Issue: 26 November 2009
Number: 831

Remains from ancient cultures are abundant along the coastline of Eretz Israel. These remains are material evidence of the activity of the diverse civilizations which inhabited these shores over thousands of years. They are part of Israel's cultural maritime legacy as well as an important source of knowledge of its history. Submerged archeological maritime remains that were hidden from human view for thousands of years have been exposed in recent years as the result of human intervention at the shoreline (construction of ports and marinas and sand quarrying) and the development of scuba diving. Unsupervised exposure of the remains and the subsequent unavoidable damage has led to the danger that these treasures may be lost.

Fifty years of underwater archeological research has uncovered many important sites, each with its own character and finds. The uniqueness of the finds lies in their generally good state of preservation and their rarity relative to archeological excavations on land. Every sunken ship preserves the moment of disaster as a sort of "time capsule", and contains much evidence regarding the technology of the vessel, the crew's lifestyle and the ship's cargo and sailing route.

This series of stamps illustrates some of the finds from sunken ships found along Israel's shoreline and reflect the seafarers' commercial ties and beliefs:

Denominations:
2.40 שח: Figurines
The power of the sea aroused the seafarers' need to seek heavenly protection and shelter. Greek and Roman sailors customarily carried talismans and figurines and held religious rituals while at sea. Three figurines of the patrons of sailing and trade were found in a Roman ship discovered near Haifa: the god Serapis, the goddess Minerva and the god Mercury.

2.40 שח: Earthenware Jugs
The bustling ports were the scene of import and export of raw materials, tools, foodstuffs and luxuries. Olive oil and wine were in great demand around the Mediterranean, and Eretz Israel was rich in both. These wares were transported in earthenware jugs called amphoras, various types of which were suited to specific types of goods.

3.60 שח: Weapons
The location of Eretz Israel at an important strategic crossroad and its significance for Christianity and Islam resulted in its being a battleground between great naval powers throughout history. Fleets landing on its shores left various weapons, including bronze axes, swords and daggers, bronze helmets, clay grenades used for "Greek Fire" and cannons.

5 שח: Anchors
The role of the anchor is to hold a ship safely in place, thus it is one of the most important and common tools used by sailing vessels. Ancient ships carried several anchors, as they were easily lost. Others sank with ships which were wrecked in storms. The variety of types discovered along our shores demonstrates the complete development of these anchors: stone anchors from the Bronze Age, anchors of wood and stone, or wood and lead, from the Persian, Hellenistic and Ancient Roman Periods, iron anchors from the Roman and Byzantine Periods and four-pronged grapnel anchors from the Middle Ages.

Comment: I'm so lucky because my Israeli friend got the designer's autograph on my FDC. His name is Eliezer Weishoff in English, but you can see his autograhp is Hebrew (אליעזר ויסהוף). Frankly Speaking, it's very hard to recognize it.

Israel Theater FDC

Israel FDC
Name: The Yiddish Theater 1876, Iasi (Israel - Romania Joint Issue)
Date of Issue: 26 November 2009
Number: 830

This joint Israel - Romania stamp issue commemorates the establishment of the Yiddish Theatre in Iasi, Romania in 1876 and the accomplishments of the founder of Jewish theatre, Abraham Goldfaden.

Abraham Goldfaden (1840 - 1908), a poet and father of the Jewish theater, was born in the town of Starokostiantyniv in the Volyn region, one of the centers of Jewish Enlightenment in southern Russia. His first book of Hebrew poems, "Zizim u-Ferahim" (Buds and Flowers), was published in 1875, after which he went on to publish poems in Yiddish. Goldfaden set some of his poems to folk melodies and they achieved such great popularity that some are even sung to this day, including the most well-known of his songs, "Raisins and Almonds".

Goldfaden arrived in Iasi, Romania in 1876 in order to publish a newspaper representing the Jewish Enlightenment. There he put on the first play improvised in Yiddish, integrating his already well-known songs and featuring two wandering actor-singers. Overnight he became the founder of the modern Jewish theater, a title he justifiably awarded himself. Up to that point, theater productions in the Jewish community were mainly held as part of the Purim holiday festivities (“Purim Spiel”), while plays written by followers of the Enlightenment were meant only to be read. The Orthodox Jewish community rejected the theater institution but Goldfaden was not deterred and dedicated himself to the theater he had founded, turning it into a legitimate part of Jewish culture. His theater merged the folkloristic roots of Jewish culture with the ideas of the Enlightenment and was influenced by the Russian-European melodrama and operetta. His troupe gave rise to many other theater troupes, which frequently made use of his repertoire, including plays such as: "The Witch", "The Two Kuni-Lemls" and "Shmendrik" (The Comical Wedding).

Over the course of thirty years, Goldfaden wrote more than 50 plays, which he directed, set to music and produced, even building and designing the sets and costumes. His productions allowed actors to hone their craft and developed an audience of theater proponents. He travelled throughout Europe, Russia, the Ukraine and America with his troupe. His plays were fraught with scathing criticism of the religious establishment and spoke out against inconsistencies within Jewish society, which was straddling the line between tradition and progress on the eve of the 20th century. His plays were received enthusiastically and he gave the Jewish stage eternal characters such as Bubbeh Yachneh, Miraleh the Orphan, Hotzmich, Shmendrik and Kuni-Leml.

At the height of his activities in Russia, Goldfaden's troupe numbered 40 actors and actresses and he began writing historical melodramas: "Shulamith", "Dr. Almasada", "Judah the Maccabean" and "Bar Kochva". Always attentive to his audience and to the goings on around him, Goldfaden wrote "Bar Kochva" in order to awaken awareness and national pride within his audience in reaction to the wave of pogroms that washed over Russia.

In 1883, the troupe disbanded after the Czar issued a proclamation banning the production of Yiddish plays within the realms of the Russian empire. Goldfaden continued to wander through Europe and America on his own. Upon arriving in America in 1887, he discovered that his former actors were performing his old repertoire but his theatrical endeavors in the New World were rejected. Although unable to rekindle his days of glory in the theater, he continued to pen new plays, such as "Lo Tachmod" (The Tenth Commandment or Though Shalt Not Covet), "Days of the Messiah?!" and "The Binding of Isaac", which he produced them with various troupes in many places. He wrote and produced his Hebrew-language play "David in War" featuring a group of youths in a Zionist club in New York. Thus he also considered himself to be the father of the Hebrew Theatre.

Abraham Goldfaden died on January 9, 1908 and tens of thousands of mourners accompanied him on his final journey. The original theater he created filled the community's needs and impacted the artistic development of the Jewish and Hebrew theaters as they came into being. Many of his plays continue to be produced in Israel and in Jewish theaters throughout the world.

Description of the Stamp & the First Day Cover
The stamp features an adapted illustration, based on the original poster for the play Two Kuni-Lemls.

The First Day Cover features two quotes from the play Two Kuni-Lemls, both in the original Yiddish and translated into Hebrew.

Israel Bird ATM FDC

Israel ATM FDC
Name: Bonelli's Eagle
Date of Issue: 08 September 2009

The Bonelli's Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciata) is a large bird of prey. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. It breeds in southern Europe, Africa both north and south of the Sahara Desert and across southern Asia to Indonesia. It is usually a resident breeder which lays 1-3 eggs in a tree or crag nest.

The Bonelli's Eagle is a species of wooded, often hilly, country with some open areas. The African race prefers savannah, forest edges, cultivation, and scrub, provided there are some large trees; this is not a species of very open or densely forested habitats.

This is a small to medium - sized eagle at 55-65 cm in length. The upperparts are dark brown, and the underside is white with dark streaks. The wings are relatively short and rounded. The long tail is grey on top and white below and has a single broad black terminal band. The feet and eyes are yellow.

Recent DNA research resulted in this species being moved to the genus Aquila from Hieraaetus. More...

Israel ATM FDCs - Birds of Prey Series
22/04/2009 Lesser Kestrel
30/06/2009 Short-toed Eagle
08/09/2009 Bonelli's Eagle

Israel Virtual Communication FDC

Israel FDC
Name: Virtual Communication
Date of Issue: 08 September 2009

The Virtual Communication stamp series presents three technological breakthroughs that were developed in Israel and have become household tools throughout the world. These products embody the immense capabilities of Israel's elite technology industry and the innovativeness of Israel's software developers.

Denominations:
2.40 שח: Instant Messaging Software
Instant Messaging is a system that allows internet users to conduct computerized correspondence, with the recipient instantly receiving the sent message. Various messaging systems have been developed since the 1970's, but their capabilities were very limited.

In 1996, Israeli software developers Yair Goldfinger, Arik Vardi, Sefi Vigiser and Amnon Amir introduced an innovative system called ICQ, with the assistance of entrepreneur Yossi Vardi. For the first time, installation of this system allowed every internet user to know which of his/her friends was available to chat at any given moment and to communicate with them via instant messaging. This development led to a breakthrough in the use of this means of communication, which subsequently became extremely popular throughout the world. The technological and commercial success of the ICQ system inspired many others in the Israeli hi-tech realm.

Many further developments have been made to the Israeli instant messaging software since it originally came into use, expanding its capabilities to telephone and video calls, and similar programs currently exist around the world.

5.30 שח: USB Flash Drive
Many information storage devices have been developed over the years which were designed to allow computer users to upload them with information created on one computer and to make use of that information on other computers. However, these devices were not user friendly, as in some cases a preliminary definition process had to be executed before use, while other devices were not adaptable for use with certain types of computers.

In 1999, Dov Moran, an Israeli engineer and entrepreneur, along with his colleagues at M-Systems, invented an innovative device that could be connected to a computer quickly and easily. The device did not require a preliminary installation process and it operated using a standard connection that exists in any modern computer. It was small, reliable and enabled unlimited expansion of the scope of memory.

In addition to using the new device as a means of storing information in order to transfer data between computers, it may be uploaded with software, allowing it to operate independently, regardless of the capabilities of the computer to which it is connected.
This innovative development achieved immediate global success and gave rise to a new field of development in the computer world, becoming the standard portable computer storage device.

6.50 שח: Voice over Internet Protocol
VoIP technology enables telephone calls to be transmitted via the internet. Using the internet allows communication lines to be utilized more efficiently, greatly reducing the cost of the call.

The internet was originally designed to transfer computer data, thus a special application that would allow the transfer of telephone calls via internet had to be developed. This type of innovative software was first developed in 1995 by Alon Cohen, Lior Haramati, Ofer Shem-Tov, Elad Sion, Rami Amit, Opher Kahane and Dror Tirosh – Israeli software developers at VocalTec. The application was very successfully distributed worldwide by VocalTec, managed by promoter Dr. Elon Ganor.

Similar applications have been developed in recent years, based on the Israeli invention, changing the way the world's telephone systems currently operate.

Israel Honey FDC

Israel FDC
Name: Festivals 2009 - Honey in Israel
Date of Issue: 08 September 2009

Honey is considered to be one of the tastiest foods and, along with milk, has frequently served as an allegory for things that are good and desirable. When the Torah wished to glorify the Land of Israel, it was said to be a "Land Flowing with Milk and Honey" and the author of the Song of Songs described the beloved wife by saying "honey and milk are under your tongue".

The stamp series depicts the sweet delicacy's journey from the flower in the field to people's tables.

Bees produce honey from floral nectar that they gather and store in a special organ in their bodies called "honey stomachs". The nectar is brought to the hive and transferred among the bees, eventually reaching the hexagonal wax honeycomb cells. There, through much ventilation and aided by enzymes, the bees turn the nectar into sticky liquid honey.

A large portion of the honey collected in the hive's honeycombs is used to feed the adult bees and the larvae hatched from the eggs laid by the Queen Bee. The excess honey is collected by the human beekeeper and utilized as a healthy and nourishing food.

Jewish tradition considers the honey's sweetness to be a sign of a good future and has created a number of customs related to it. Thus, for example, some Jewish ethnic groups customarily give a child a bit of honey when he begins studying the Torah, symbolizing the sweetness of his learning. During the feast on Rosh Hashana Eve it is customary to eat a slice of challah or a piece of apple dipped in honey and to recite the blessing, "May it be Your will to favor us with a good and a sweet year".

The stamp tabs depict important milestones in the raising of honeybees in Israel.

People originally gathered honey from nature, collecting it from hives belonging to wild bees. Later, after having learned the ways of bees, people began to build hives, populate them with bees and care for them. Archeological excavations in Tel Rehov in the Beth-Shean Valley have recently unearthed beehives used in the ancient beekeeping industry dating to the period of the Israelite monarchy in the 10th-9th centuries BCE. The hives, made of elongated mud cylinders, are the only ones discovered to date in archeological excavations of the Ancient Near East. The hives were studied by Prof. Amihai Mazar and Dr. Nava Panitz-Cohen. The drawing of the hive that appears on the tab of the first stamp is based on a black and white sketch by painter Anna Yamim, which was adapted and colored by artist Tuvia Kurtz.

In 1886, Reuven Lerer, founder of the town of Ness Ziona, re-established the raising of bees among the Jewish settlers of Eretz Israel. Along with his son Moshe, he learned how to craft mobile hives consisting of wooden frames and attached honeycombs. They founded a honey farm that hosted some 200 hives at its peak. The tab of the second stamp features Moshe Lerer as he collects honey with his wife Pearl. The picture is based on a photo of the Lerer family, as adapted and colored by Tuvia Kurtz.

Today, the raising of bees constitutes an important agricultural field in Israel, providing income for hundreds of growers. Some 100,000 hives are scattered throughout Israel, producing more than 3,500 tons of honey each year. Modern hives, placed along the edges of a field of flowers, appear on the tab of the third stamp, as the beekeeper, clad in customary protective clothing, collects the honey from the hive.

Israel Health Fund FDC

Israel FDC
Name: 75 Years to the Leumit Health Fund
Date of Issue: 08 September 2009

Leumit Health Fund was founded at the height of the British Mandate period in Israel by a group of doctors whose goal was to provide medical services for local residents. The organization was founded in Dr. Yaakov Vinshal's kitchen by doctors who dreamed of an independent, high quality health fund that was accessible to all. There, in that kitchen, the concept of "Leumit" was born, seeing itself as one large family that puts the client first while providing and maintaining high quality, professional and readily available medical service. Leumit Health Fund then went through a creative transformation, focusing on personalized treatment, and by making service, caring, commitment and staff involvement the core of client care.

In 1934, when still in its infancy, the Fund had 35 insured members. Today, with 700,000 insured members who reflect a cross-section of Israeli society's ethnic and socio-economic sectors, Leumit continues to adhere to the principles of service and high quality, personal service.

Leumit provides all of the medical services defined in the National Health Insurance Law as well as additional health services at the highest level, through 340 medical centers located throughout the country and thousands of medical and service staff members.

Leumit is a leader in many aspects of supplementary medical care which is provided to its clients through supplementary insurance programs and offers medical services at the level of private care: surgery performed by the best doctors in public and private hospitals, consultations with specialists (second opinions), significant discounts on medications not included in the list of nationally subsidized medications, examinations during pregnancy, and unique insurance services, such as lifetime long-term care insurance.

Leumit's broad approach to the health field includes treatment that integrates mind and body. Leumit offers a wide range of natural treatments and healing methods: acupuncture, Alexander technique, chiropractic, homeopathy, reflexology, tai chi and more. All of these services are offered to members in conjunction with conventional medical methods.

According to the Ministry of Health's objective criteria the Fund provides the highest quality medical services available in Israel. The unique variety of services that Leumit Health Fund offers its clients, as well as the best range of medications, ensures good health and a high quality of life along with unique, efficient and considerate service.

Israel Animal Therapy FDC

Israel FDC
Name: Animal Assisted Therapy
Date of Issue: 08 September 2009

The connection between human beings and the animal kingdom is imprinted in the collective unconscious and molds our emotional world. The new field of Animal Assisted Therapy, which utilizes this connection to further human wellbeing, is rapidly growing and developing in Israel and throughout the world.

Many studies geared toward examining the unique therapeutic effect of animals (the "instrument") indicate the direct and indirect effects of this connection on a patient's emotional, social and physiological state. The integration of animals into educational, treatment and rehabilitative frameworks is accelerating.

The Emotional Realm: Animals provide people with "unconditional" love, warmth and acceptance, grant them a sense of meaning and a source of security and pride, while also strengthening their sense of ability and self-image. Animals contribute to the development of self-awareness and awareness of others and to the development of feelings of compassion and empathy. They also induce a sense of calm, reduce stress and anxiety and diminish loneliness and depression. Animals help to lessen feelings of anger, frustration and aggression and allow the fostering of self control and emotional adjustment.

The Social Realm: Animals serve in a "mediatory" capacity between the individual and his/her environment. For example, a spurned child may become the "star" of the class after presenting and teaching about an animal, thus becoming the focus of attention. Through learning and a command of body language and communication with the animal, patients also develop better sensitivity and perception in their human interactions. Holding animals may also strengthen a patient's sense of responsibility and commitment to tasks.

The Physiological Realm: Studies show that the presence and holding of furry animals reduce anxiety, blood pressure and increased heart rate. Raising pets contributes to reducing the risk of recurring heart attacks and to better recovery. People who raise pets report a lower rate of headaches, constipation, allergy attacks, backaches, flu and concentration difficulties.

The three stamps display characters interacting affectionately with animals. The stamps and their tabs express the uniqueness of Animal Assisted Therapy, which allows patients to feel needed, meaningful, worthy and capable at every point throughout the process.

Israel Bird ATM FDC

Israel ATM FDC
Name: Birds of Prey - Short-toed Eagle
Date of Issue: 30 June 2009

The Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers.

This is an Old World species spread throughout the Mediterranean basin and into Russia and the Middle East, and into parts of Asia (Pakistan, India and some Indonesian islands). More...

Israel ATM FDCs - Birds of Prey Series
22/04/2009 Lesser Kestrel
30/06/2009 Short-toed Eagle
08/09/2009 Bonelli's Eagle

Israel Love FDC

Israel FDC
Name: Love (Definitive Stamp)
Date of Issue: 30 June 2009

"Vast floods cannot quench love, nor rivers drown it", wrote King Solomon, the wisest among men, in the Song of Songs, expressing the intensity of one of the strongest emotions that affect human motivation.

Over the years, love has been the inspiration for countless books, songs, poems, plays and films and under its influence people have discovered the most positive and kindest aspects of their personalities.

The instruction to love appears three times in the Bible. People are required to love God and strangers, and especially to fulfill the commandment "Love your neighbor as yourself". The special significance of loving others was frequently emphasized by the Sages of Israel, such as Rabbi Akiva, who said that this was a "great rule of the Torah" and Hillel the Elder defined it as "the entire Torah while standing on one foot".

Among all the various types of love, such as parents' love for their children, familial love and love among friends, romantic love has gained the most attention. The powerful emotional bond and physical attraction that exist between loving partners attain ultimate heights, as defined by King Solomon in the Song of Songs when saying "for love is fierce as death".

Lovers may express their deep feelings for their beloved in many different ways, but nothing compares to the romantic gesture of sending a love letter. The carefully chosen words, perfumed paper, decorated envelope and above all, the knowledge that the letter was prepared by a loving hand, demonstrate the sincerity of the sender's feelings for the recipient.

The heart stamp completes this gesture, as the letter is posted with a stamp that is all about love. A large bright red heart, the traditional place for harboring feelings, appears at the center of the stamp. Although the heart symbol does not resemble the actual shape of the human heart, and there is debate among researchers as to the source of its choice, this symbol has traditionally been used to represent love for more than 2000 years.

The tab of the stamp illustrates the fact that the emotion of love is common to all cultures and to all peoples, by incorporating the word "love" in numerous languages.

Comment: Can you find your mother tongue on this FDC?

Israel Maccabiah FDC

Israel FDC
Name: 18th Maccabiah
Date of Issue: 30 June 2009

Constituting the world's third largest sports event, the 18th Maccabiah, to be held in July 2009, will be the largest ever, displaying the positive vibrancy of Jewish and Israeli Sports and the global activities of Maccabi World Union, the Games' organizational parent. Each successive Maccabiah attracts more athletes, and as all its predecessors have done, Maccabiah Chai (in Hebrew numerology, 18 means "Life!") forges an important new link in Zionist history.

Since world leaders of Maccabi decided 80 years ago at a Congress in Czechoslovakia to establish the Maccabiah, the Games have been staged seventeen times, twice in Tel Aviv during the British Mandate and fifteen times in the independent Jewish State. The emphasis and range of sports has evolved and changed over the 77 years since the 1st Maccabiah in 1932, but the strong basic theme of Zionist values that brings so many thousands of young Jewish athletes and visitors to Israel remains constant.

Early Maccabiot established Israel's connection with the Olympic Movement, and the Maccabiah is recognized as one of the world's most important Regional Games events. The 1930's Maccabiot resulted in hundreds of athletes from numerous countries making Aliyah, enriching the Jewish presence in the Land of Israel in numerous fields – education, research, arts, culture and sports. After 1948, the continued Aliyah of top athletes generated by Maccabiot and appearances by elite sportspeople like the celebrated Mark Spitz – the All-time Great of Jewish Sports – contributed greatly to the nation's sporting culture. Many of the current leading Jewish athletes, including Beijing 2008 Olympics gold medalists, will participate in Maccabiah 2009, as a mark of their respect for the connection the Games establish with Judaism and Israel.

The spectacular Opening Ceremony on Monday, July 13, 2009 will introduce several new innovations into the Maccabiah tradition: all 7500 athletes will parade into Ramat Gan National Stadium – the country's largest – and all will remain on the turf arena as active participants not only in the ceremonial phase, but also during the artistic show. The entire event will be televised live not only in Israel, but also in North America, Europe and Africa, and live-webcast worldwide via the Internet. The Opening Ceremony marks the official start of 10 days of intense competitions in 35 different types of sport and many disciplines at more than 75 venues throughout Israel.

The arrival of thousands of athletes, officials and visitors from all over the globe, along with mass open-entry "Popular Maccabiah" cycling and beach events, means that the Maccabiah is not only a sports festival but also a huge event for Israel's tourism industry (involving hotels, guest houses, restaurants, shuttle and tour buses) and for the thousands of volunteers who are looking forward to meeting Jews from abroad and to helping to organize this complex event which is rich in sports, educational and religious content (including mass Bat/Bar Mitzvahs at the Western Wall). The 18th Maccabiah is the highlight of four years of preparation by Maccabi World Union's Organizing Committee and one of the national events that will be remembered long after the Closing Ceremony.

Israel Harp Contest FDC

Israel FDC
Name: The International Harp Contest in Israel
Date of Issue: 30 June 2009

The International Harp Contest in Israel celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in October 2009. This prestigious Contest was the first in the world to showcase this time-old instrument, which originated in the ancient Middle East.

The Israeli government decided to name the Contest after its founder, Aharon Zvi Propes. While working in the Prime Minister's office, Propes was among the planners of Israel's 10th anniversary celebrations. He is also credited with initiating and heading the Zimriya (World Assembly of Choirs) and the Israel Festival until his death in 1978.

The harp is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. It was used by Priests, Levites and Prophets and was part of the rituals and ceremonies held in the Temple in Jerusalem. The oldest known harp, dating back to approximately 3000 BCE, is the "Ur of the Chaldees Harp", located in a museum in Baghdad. There is an Egyptian harp dating from a similar period in the Louvre in Paris and an ivory engraving depicting a harpist found in Megiddo is displayed in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

The double action "concert harp", which was first produced in France in the early 19th century, has 47 strings, seven double pedals and a sound box. Today, the harp is played in orchestras, chamber ensembles and solo performances. The Harp Contest in Israel has contributed greatly to the composition of harp music and each time the Contest is held, a prize is awarded for the best performance of an Israeli work.

Prize recipients from previous Contests, held in Israel every three years, currently hold senior positions in orchestras throughout the world and teach in the most renowned music schools. The harp is also currently used in light music and jazz.

The harp has inspired many artists, the most prominent of whom was Rembrandt. The tapestry by Marc Chagall that adorns the Knesset entry hall depicts King David playing the harp on his way to Jerusalem and the Israeli half-shekel coin features a harp from Bar Kochva's era.

Since its inception in 1959, the Contest in Israel draws the greatest harpists, composers and musicians from around the world. Previous first prize winners will attend the 50th anniversary Contest, taking part in the gala opening concert and serving as members of the international jury panel, headed by Maestro Zubin Mehta.

The ancient harp played by King David has changed considerably through the ages, but thanks to the International Contest, the harp retains a central place in Israel's musical culture and focuses international attention on our country. We appreciate the efforts of those who have worked in the past and the present to achieve this goal.

Israel Global Warming FDC

Israel FDC
Name: The Environment – Global Warming
Date of Issue: 30 June 2009

The global warming phenomenon has attracted increasing attention among large numbers of the general public in recent years. Global climate researchers have discovered that the earth's average temperature has risen by 0.75ºC over the course of the past century. There is some disagreement among researchers as to the causes of this phenomenon however, the view that mankind's activity has greatly contributed to accelerating global warming in recent years is widely accepted. The crux of the problem lies in the burning of fossil fuel materials, such as crude oil and coal, which emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trapping heat close to the Earth.

This increased temperature causes weather changes and extreme weather throughout the world. Scientists point to phenomena such as glacial melting in the Polar Regions, continually increasing sea levels, consecutive years of drought and the outbreak of devastating storms. This phenomenon manifests in Israel in the form of decreasing annual rainfall, harm to water sources and the growth of desert areas in the country's southern region.

In an attempt to halt the global warming phenomenon, or at least slow its progress, researchers and entrepreneurs around the world are working diligently to develop alternative energy sources which will reduce the need to use fossil fuel, thus decreasing the greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. Renewable and clean energy sources such as wind power, geothermal power and solar power are being especially emphasized.

Geothermal Energy
Geothermal power plants utilize heat stored deep within the Earth as a power production source. Boiling water that either bursts out naturally from within the Earth (in the form of geysers) or that is drawn out via special drilling mechanisms is transferred to turbines that produce electricity.

Solar Energy
The greatest potential for producing energy from natural sources lies in the utilization of the sun's rays. Israel is among the world's pioneers in this field. The solar heated water tank was developed in Israel in the 1950's and such tanks are currently used in most Israeli homes. Israeli companies have developed solar-thermal power stations that operate to effectively produce electricity at various locations around the world. Special effort has been made in recent years to develop inexpensive and effective technology that will enable the direct conversion of sunlight into electrical current through the use of photovoltaic cell panels. New regulations published recently in Israel encourage the installation of such systems in private homes and commercial facilities.

Denominations: (from right to left)
2.30 שח: Global Warming
The Earth is depicted as melting in a frying pan against a red background, in contrast to the tab featuring the international graphic symbols for alternative energy, ecology and the environment portrayed against a clean environment background.

2.30 שח: Solar Energy
A "green" house surrounded by green vegetation appears on the Earth; a photoelectric solar device is installed on the roof of the house. The tab features a photoelectric electricity production unit and a close-up photograph of solar cells.

2.30 שח: Geothermal Energy
The Earth is portrayed as a boiling kettle, illustrating the energy stored within the depths of the Earth. The tab features a photograph of a geyser with an adjacent turbine for the utilization of lost heat.

Israel Bird ATM FDC

Israel ATM FDC
Name: Birds of Prey - Lesser Kestrel
Date of Issue: 22 April 2009

The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small falcon. This species breeds from the Mediterranean across southern central Asia to China and Bangladesh. It is a summer migrant, wintering in Africa and Pakistan. It is rare north of its breeding range, and declining in its European range. The scientific name of this bird commemorates the German naturalist Johann Andreas Naumann. More…

Israel ATM FDCs - Birds of Prey Series
22/04/2009 Lesser Kestrel
30/06/2009 Short-toed Eagle
08/09/2009 Bonelli's Eagle

Israel Astronomy FDC

Israel FDC
Name: International Year of Astronomy
Date of Issue: 22 April 2009

The year 2009 has been designated by the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO as the International Year of Astronomy, marking the 400th anniversary of the invention of the astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei – the first person to turn a research telescope toward the sky, opening new horizons for scientists and expanding the boundaries of the known universe.

This stamp series displays three milestones in the field of astronomical measuring which greatly impact our understanding of the universe.

Jacob's Staff - Gersonides
The study and mapping of the heavens began before Galileo, with the Jewish people making a unique contribution in the form of "Jacob's Staff" – an ancient measurement tool for mapping stars, which was first described and in all likelihood invented by Gersonides (Rabbi Levi ben Gershon, France, 1288-1344). The staff was 1.4 meters long and notched with scale graduations along its length. Up to seven cross-pieces of varying lengths, called "transoms", slid up and down along the main piece. By aiming one end of the transom toward a star and sliding the transom along the notched main staff until its other end lined up with another star, one could measure the angular distance between those two stars.

Navigators also made use of Jacob's Staff to measure the altitude of the North Star above the horizon in order to determine their latitude.

Gravitational Lensing
Over the years, telescopes have become a powerful research tool, and the largest among them are equipped with concave mirrors measuring 8-10 meters in diameter. The larger the mirror, the more light it captures, allowing the measurement of fainter astronomical bodies. Mirrors measuring 40 meters in diameter and more are planned for the future. But the universe's largest telescopes are those that exist in nature. The way in which they work was discovered by the Jewish scientist Albert Einstein, one of the most significant scientists of all time.

One of his revolutionary breakthroughs in the field of physics is the General Theory of Relativity, dealing with space and time in nature. According to this theory, as light rays from a distant astronomical body pass by a massive object, the object's gravitational force affects their paths and they bend. Thus, a massive body that is positioned between an observer and a distant astronomical body acts as a lens – the distant body appears enlarged and may even be multiplied, as a number of images appear alongside the "lens". The phenomenon of light rays changing course due to gravitational force is called "Gravitational Lensing". Gravitational lenses may be created by regular stars or by more dense astronomical bodies such as black holes, by galaxies or even by clusters of galaxies. Nature's largest telescopes allow us to glimpse distant galaxies and perceive light that was emitted from them more than ten billion years ago. Today, the largest ground and space telescopes photograph images of extremely distant astronomical bodies after they have undergone gravitational lensing.

LISA – Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
In the future, new astronomical research fields involving the examination of radiation in spectral regions that have yet to be studied will develop. One example of this is gravitational radiation. Although its existence may be derived from Einstein's General Theory of Gravity, no one has been able to detect it as yet. The future LISA system, which will comprise three spacecraft arranged at the apices of an equilateral triangle and connected by laser beams, is currently being planned to detect and measure gravitational waves. Gravitational waves warp the space surrounding the spacecraft and as a result the spacecraft will move farther away from or closer toward each other. Each pair of spacecraft will be spaced five million kilometers apart. Any miniscule change of up to one millionth of a centimeter in the length of one of the sides of the huge triangle will be measured by the laser beams emanating from the spacecraft, revealing the existence of a gravitational wave.

Astrophysics research groups are active at most of Israel's universities. Tel-Aviv University operates a research observatory in Mitzpe Ramon and hundreds of astronomy enthusiasts, some of whom are members of the Israeli Astronomical Association, observe the skies through private telescopes and from the amateur observatories located throughout the country.

Denominations:
שח 2.30: Jacob's Staff – Gersonides – astronomy of the past.
The illustration demonstrates the use of Jacob's Staff in astronomy and navigation, by aiming the upper end of the transom to the sun or to a star and its lower end to the horizon.

שח 3.80: Gravitational Lensing – astronomy of the present.
The illustration demonstrates gravitational lensing against the Hubble space telescope. The mass of the galaxy opposite the telescope bends the space around it, diverting the paths of light rays coming from a quasar located far behind it (a huge black hole in the center of a galaxy that emits large amounts of energy), causing them to warp around the galaxy while creating images of the quasar on either side of the galaxy.

שח 8.50: LISA – the astronomy of the future.
The illustration demonstrates measuring gravity waves by using laser beams from the three satellites that comprise the LISA system. Gravity waves are emitted by the bending of space when two neutron stars orbit around each other as they approach merging.

Galileo Galilei's telescope appears on the tabs.

Tel-Aviv University's Florence and George Wise Observatory, located near Mitzpe Ramon, is depicted on the First Day Cover.

Comment: Because the high value of this set, my friend added 3 Sheqels to reach the 251g registered postage. Well done!!!

Israel Polish Year FDC

Israel FDC
Name: Polish Year in Israel (Israel - Poland Joint Issue)
Date of Issue: 22 April 2009

The history of Polish Jewry includes the splendid achievements of the Jewish culture that developed in Poland over centuries. Torah sages, rabbis and pious men created there. It was also where the Jewish national culture blossomed: in Yiddish and Hebrew literature, in the Jewish theater and cinema. Zionist political parties and youth movements were founded there and Jews were also among the noted creators of Polish literature and culture.

"Polish Year in Israel" began in April 2008, concurrently with a period marking Israeli culture in Poland. The Israel Philatelic Service is contributing to these events through a joint stamp issue with Poland dedicated to a special figure in the common history of Poland and Polish Jews.

Berek Joselewicz was a Jewish fighter who excelled in the Polish people's battles for national independence and is considered to be one of Poland's premier military heroes. Streets have been named after him in many Polish cities. Joselewicz was born in 1764 in the town Kretynga in Lithuania. He served as a trade agent for the local Bishop.

When an uprising led by Tadeusz Kościuszko against the Russian occupation broke out in Poland in 1794, Joselewicz established a cavalry battalion – the first Jewish military battalion since the Bar Kochva Revolt. The volunteer Jewish battalion bravely defended Warsaw against the Czar's Cossacks. Most of his soldiers fell in the course of these battles and Joselewicz himself was taken prisoner, but he managed to make a bold escape. Kościuszko, the beloved leader of the uprising, promoted him to the rank of colonel.

Following the suppression of the revolt, Joselewicz escaped to Italy, where he joined the Polish Legions, fighting alongside Napoleon's army in Italy and Austria. He excelled in the "Battle of the Three Emperors" at Austerlitz in 1805 and was subsequently awarded high military honors. He later commanded the Royal Polish Army's cavalry battalion.

The painting featured in the joint issue stamp was painted by Juliuz Kossak in 1893. It depicts Joselewicz astride his horse as he led his men into his last battle against the Austrian army in 1809, near the town of Kock (Kotzk). Joselewicz was buried on the battlefield where he fell and a monument honoring his memory was erected at his gravesite. Tales of his heroism are taught at Polish military academies to this day. In his eulogy for Joselewicz, Count Stanislaw Kostka Potocki said, "You were the first to exemplify the rejuvenation of your people's heroism and the image of those chivalrous men whose deaths were mourned by the daughters of Zion".
Joselewicz' son, Josef Berkowicz was also an excellent soldier, who served with his father in battle after the Kościuszko Uprising.

Berek Joselewicz is more than just a symbol of Jewish heroism in Polish history - he is also a symbol of the joint struggle of Poles and Jews on behalf of Polish freedom.

Israel Extreme Sport FDC

Israel FDC
Name: Extreme Sport
Date of Issue: 17 February 2009

Are extreme sports actually sports, an art form or a way of life? Whatever the answer may be, the various types of extreme sports possess common characteristics, such as creativity, freedom and originality. As extreme sports continue to gather momentum in Israel, the water and urban fields engage the largest numbers of participants.

Denominations:
שח 4.40: Mountain Biking
Bicycle racing and road biking have been around for many years, but it was not until the early 1970's that a group of rebellious youths from the Marin, California area tried riding bikes off-road. Today, mountain biking is one of the most popular leisure sports in the world. However, it is a broad realm, encompassing various fields: competitive "cross country" (long endurance races and marathons), "downhill" (downhill competitions, in which competitors must traverse a course in the fastest possible time) and "free ride" (a field in which mountain bike riders jump and perform various acrobatic stunts). Israel's mountain bike league and the Israel Cycling Federation hold many competitions throughout the year.

שח 5.40: Skydiving
The history of skydiving is directly linked to man's wish to fly. Parachutes are mentioned in Chinese writings and in written works by Leonardo de Vinci, as well as being documented in other places around the world. The development of aviation accelerated the development of skydiving, which was adopted as an official sport by the U.S. Aviation Organization in 1948. In that same year, Leo Valentine developed improved techniques for controlling the body while falling, which came to serve as cornerstones of the field. Skydiving encompasses four main disciplines, according to which skydivers train and compete: Relative Work, Free Style, Sky Surfing and Free Flying. Israel's two skydiving clubs hold annual skydiving competitions.

שח 5.60: Surfing
Surfing originated among the Polynesian inhabitants of Hawaii who worshipped the sea and its power. Surfing was part of their religion. In 1910, Americans began to visit the islands and quickly caught "surfing fever". Surfboard design and production have progressed thanks to technological innovation and athletes have improved their techniques, thus creating more aggressive surfing. Surfing has gone from focusing on high waves to deeper "tube riding" (surfing inside hollow "tube" or "barrel" waves). The core of Israeli surfing began in the 1960's when a Jewish doctor named Dorian Paskowitz taught Tel Aviv's life guards to surf.

Comment: Because the high face value of this set, my friend added 2.20 NIS on the franking label to reach the 251g postal rate. He did a good job for this real posted FDC. Cheer!!

Israel Radio FDC

Israel FDC
Name: Galei Zahal
Date of Issue: 17 December 2008

On Sunday, 24 September, 1950 a trumpet blast erupted from the radio at precisely 6:30 p.m., followed by "HaTikva", Israel's national anthem. Thus began the very first broadcast of Galei Zahal, the IDF Broadcasting Service. The improvised studio was located inside a former school building in Ramat Gan. Army blankets were hung along the walls in an attempt to muffle background noise.

Galei Zahal was born in the State of Israel, which, at that time, was dealing with the absorption of waves of immigrants and contending with distress and poverty. For many years Galei Zahal broadcasts were mainly geared toward soldiers, including music programs bearing soldiers' greetings and various broadcasts related to the IDF. The station was unique in that it incorporated soldiers serving in the regular army into journalistic positions, including reporters, editors, producers, news broadcasters, music broadcasters, musical editors, announcers, etc.

Following the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the station began broadcasting 24 hours a day, expanding its broadcasts to include all citizens by adding news broadcasts and current affairs programming. For years, it was the only Israeli station that continued to broadcast throughout the night, to be joined later by "Kol Israel" Broadcasting.

Suggestions have been raised on more than one occasion stating that the station should be closed and its broadcasts ceased, but due to protests by the public, the Knesset and the Israel Broadcasting Authority Governing Council, none of these proposals has even come to fruition.

In November 1993 Galei Zahal began operating another station, establishing Galgalaz, which broadcasts music interspersed with traffic reports and has extremely high listener rates.

Galei Zahal's various programs are currently presented by leading broadcasters, who are among the most highly esteemed journalists in Israel, alongside young, talented and energetic reporters, producers and editors. This combination makes Galei Zahal a relevant, young and characteristically Israeli media outlet.

Thanks to a widespread array of transmitters located throughout the entire country, as well as through the internet, the station's broadcasts reach IDF bases and private homes throughout Israel and abroad, making it a central component of Israeli media in general and of public broadcasting in particular.

Comment: It has a very very big mistake on this FDC. The issue date of this set is 17.12.2008. but do you find? The date of the local postmark is 17.09.08. if my friend hadn't added a franking label (it has printing date) on this FDC, everybody should have puzzled.

Israel France FDC

Israel FDC
Name: 60 Years of Friendship between Israel and France (France – Israel Joint Issue)
Date of Issue: 06 November 2008

France supported Resolution 181 at the UN general Assembly on November 29, 1947, partitioning the land into two States and ending the British Mandate. This decision was the corner stone leading to the establishment of the State of Israel May, 14 1948. Postal ties between the newly founded State and the rest of the world had been severed since April 1948. In June of 1948 France brought about the renewal of Israel's postal ties with many nations.

The postal ties of 1948 are reminiscent of those that existed some 100 years earlier. On July 10, 1852 the French Postal ship Tancrède arrived in Jaffa and on that same day the first post office was opened by postal agent named Antonie Louis Santelli, who also initiated and founded a branch of the French post in Jerusalem. These were the first and only post offices in the area at that time. In 1906 an additional French Post office was opened in Haifa. These post offices were shut down on October 1, 1914 as per instructions issued by the Ottoman authorities on September 19, 1914.

On June 1958 an Air France DC3 airplane, registration number F.BAXK, landed Haifa, flown by pilot Georges Bernard and two crew members: communication technician Mr. Sortais and mechanic Mr. Boutet. The plane made an interim stop in Bucharest while en route to Israel, thus arriving with mail from both France and Romania. The plane subsequently left Haifa on June 11 at 6:36 a.m., bearing mail to France and other countries with which Israel had re-established postal ties: Bulgaria, Holland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Poland and Switzerland. It also carried a mail sack bound for New York. After interim stop in Cyprus, Greece Italy and Nice un southern France, the airplane took of the next day towards its final destination, Le Bourget airport in Paris, where it landed o June 12, 1948 at 11:01 a.m. and delivered its mail sacks.

These stamps commemorate the 60th anniversary of that first flight to France and of the State of Israel's independence. That flight symbolizes the beginning of the ties and cooperation that exist between the two countries in many areas. Above all, it represents the close and friendly relation between the two countries and their people.

The Stamps depict the airplane as it leaves Haifa bound for Paris and a letter that was sent aboard that flight. The tabs feature postmarks with dates on each on the plane took off and landed.

Comment: The landmarks of 2 cities are very distinct on 2 stamps, you could see the Sail Tower and the Shrine of the Báb on Haifa stamp and the Eiffel Tower on Paris stamp.