Friday, 12 June 2020

1389) Authors and Poets, Israel: three stamps of 2.50 New Israeli Shekel (NIS) each honour three eminent authors/poets of Israel - Haim Gouri (1923-2018), Amoz Oz (1939-2018) and Ronit Matalon (1959-2017): Date of Stamps issue: 09.06.2020:

1389) Authors and Poets, Israel: three stamps of 2.50 New Israeli Shekel (NIS) each honour three eminent authors/poets of Israel - Haim Gouri (1923-2018), Amoz Oz (1939-2018) and Ronit Matalon (1959-2017): Date of Stamps issue: 09.06.2020:


In the past two years, Israel has lost three of its greatest writers, each one of whom has left a mark in his or her field, not just for their writing talent and excellent published works, but also due to their contribution to Israeli society from the time of establishment of the new State of Israel.

Three generations characterised by a simultaneous mix of contradictions and parallels - Haim Gouri and Amos Oz, born in Israel prior to the State reflected in their writings the country's wars and the central questions of the new Jewish-Israeli existence after the War of Independence. On the other hand, Ronit Matalon, born in the State of Israel, reflected in her writings, the conditions of the individual, mainly the women individual, as a woman from mid-Eastern descent, driven to promote the status of women and to increase pluralism in the renewed State of Israel.

Haim Gouri (1923-2018):


A single stamp of 2.50 New Israeli Shekel depicting Haim Gouri. Also seen on the stamp extension are three Flanders Poppies, which are a mark of remembrance to the fallen soldiers serving in the armed forces, the world over


A Block (set of four stamps) of the value of 2.50 New Israeli Shekel  each depicting Haim Gouri

He was an Israeli poet, author, journalist and documentary film maker. He served as a Commander in the Palmach pre-State military force and was among the poets of the "1948 generation". He was awarded the Israel Prize for Hebrew poetry in 1988.

Gouri's works addressed constitutive events in his life and in the history of the land of Israel and the nation - the wars, the Holocaust and subsequent gathering of those who survived the horrors, alongside extremely personal poetry dealing with love, the passing of time and the fragility of the human body.

Two of his poems - "Hare'ut" (The Friendship) and "Bab el-Wad" became symbols of the essence of the war to establish the State, its costs and the importance of commemoration.

His poem "I am a Civil War" expressed him well as a man and as an artist committed to preserving all components of one's identity, with all of the tensions and contradictions among them. His works reflect deep love and compassion alongside profound criticism and a deep moral perception.


A First Day Cover (FDC) affixed with a single stamp depicting Haim Gouri. On the FDC are depicted three Flanders Poppies as a mark of remembrance to the able Commander


A Full Sheet (FS) of 5 x 3 = 15 stamps

Amos Oz (1939-2018):


A single stamp of 2.50 New Israeli Shekel depicting Amoz Oz. Also seen on the stamp extension is an Agricultural Institute and ears of wheat



A Block (set of four stamps) of 2.50 New Israeli Shekel each depicting Amoz Oz

Amos Oz, an Israeli author and intellectual, wrote novels, novellas, short stories and children's books, in addition to articles and essays on literary, political, national and social topics. His works were translated into 45 languages, adapted for film and theatre. He won several literary  prizes in Israel and abroad, including the Israel Prize (1998), the Goethe Prize (2005) and the Tolstoy Prize (2018).

His stories were mostly set in Jerusalem or on a kibbutz, each line expressing his great passion for the Hebrew language, his love of humankind and his understanding of the human soul, curiosity and imagination, sense of humour and extraordinary empathy for the characters he created.

Among Oz's most well known works are - "My Michael", "The Same Sea" and "A Tale of Love and Darkness".


A First Day Cover (FDC) affixed with a single stamp showing him. Two ears of wheat are depicted on the FDC as a mark of remembrance to the accomplished  writer-poet, who among other topics wrote on the importance of agriculture


A Full Sheet (FS) of 5 x 3 = 15 stamps

Ronit Matalon (1959-2017):


A single stamp of 2.50 New Israeli Shekel depicting Ronit Matalon. Also seen on the stamp extension are dead leaves falling to the ground, symbolising change in Israeli Society vis-a-vis women


A Block (set of four Stamps) of 2.50 New Israeli Shekel each depicting Ronit Matalon

Ronit Matalon was born to parents of Egyptian descent and grew up in Ganel Tikva. At the time she passed away, she was a professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of Haifa. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Henrew University of Jerusalem and won the Bernstein Neuman, EMET and Brenner prizes.

Matalon wrote short stories ("Strangers of Home"), novels ("The One Facing Us", "Bliss", "The Sound of Our Steps") novellas ("Uncover Her Face", "And the Bride Closed the Door", "Snow"), essays ("Reading and Writing"), a teen novel ("A Story that Begins with a Snake's Funeral") and a play ("The Sleepwalking Girls"). Her movement among genres reflected her deep interest in the literary form.

Although she was among the first female writers to wroteat length about their mid-Eastern identity, she expressed her reservations about political stereotyping of identities on several occasions.

A First Day Cover (FDC) affixed with a single stamp showing her. The FDC shows dead leaves falling to the ground and the trees will bear new leaves as a symbolism that the Israeli society is undergoing change


A Full Sheet of 5 x 3 = 15 Stamps






Links to more posts from ICMC, Israel:
Gates of Jerusalem Coin Series:

1) "Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem", Israel: First Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold & Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2017:

Birds of Israel Coin Series:

Other interesting posts from Israel:
2) Centenary of the Battle of Haifa, Israel: Eretz, fought in September 2018 by the Indian cavalry comprising Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers against German and Turkish troops: A commemorative stamp brought out by Israel Post on 06.02.2018:

3) Butterflies of Israel: A Series of Eight Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC), minted by the Holy Land Mint (2018)



5) "Jerusalem Windmill", Israel: The Ninth Coin in the Jerusalem of Gold Bullion Coin Series: Issue Year: 2019

6) "The Twelve Spies", ICMC, Israel: 23rd Coin in the Biblical Art series: Gold 10 & 1 New Israeli Shekel (NIS) and Silver 2 & 1 New Israeli Shekel (NIS) Coins issued by the Holy Land Mint:

7) Ancient Roman Arenas (in Israel): A set of three Stamps issued by Israel Post on 19.12.2017

8) Banknotes of the New Israeli Shekel (NIS): Series "A" (1985-1989), Series "B" (1999-2017) and Series "C" (2014 to Present Day)

9) Flowers of Israel: A set of eight Silver Medals issued by Israel Coin and Medals Corporation (ICMC) featuring the - Poppy Anemone, Cyclamen, Common Narcissus, Bristly Hollyhock, Common Caper, Crown Daisies, Steven's Meadow Saffron and Dark Purple Iris: Issue Year: 2019

10) Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel: 50th Anniversary Celebrations: A stamp of NIS 5.0 issued by Israel Post: Date of Stamp issue: 05.01.2020

11) Concentration Camps, Liberation, Israel: 75 years ago (1945-2020): A commemorative postage stamp issued by Israel Post on Concentration Camps, Displaced Person's Camps and creation of Eretz Israel (The "Land of Israel"): Date of Stamp issue: 21.04.2020:

12) Mikve Israel: Commemorating 150 Years of Mikve Israel (1870-2020): A postage stamp brought out by Israel Post celebrating the milestone: Date of Stamp issue:21.04.2020

13) 72nd Anniversary of Independence ("Yom Ha'atmaut"), Israel: Gold (10 NIS), Silver (2 NIS)) & Silver Proof-like (1 NIS) Coins issued on the theme - "Desert Agriculture"by ICMC (Israel Coins & Medals Corporation), Israel: Date of Coins issue: 20.04.2020

14) "The Train to Jerusalem", Israel: Tenth 20 NIS Gold Coin in the "Jerusalem of Gold Bullion Coin Series" issued by Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC): Year of Coin issue: 2020

15) Shuvuot Holiday - "The Festival of Harvest", Israel: Gold, Silver and Bronze Variants of a State Medal brought out by the Israel Coins & Medals Corporation (ICMC): Year of issue: 1993

16) Authors and Poets, Israel: Three stamps of 2.50 New Israeli Shekel (NIS) each honour three eminent authors/poets of Israel -Haim Gouri (1923-2018), Amoz Oz (1939 - 2018) and Ronit Matalon (1959-2017): Date of stamps issue: 09.06.2020

"Views of Jerusalem" Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series:

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