1480) Modern Jewish Art Mandalas, Israel: Festivals 2020: Stamps issued by Israel Postal Company (Israel Post) on three Blessings - Kingship (2.50 NIS), Remembrances (5.00 NIS), Shofar (8.30 NIS): Date of Stamp set issue: 08.09.2020:
Throughout the generations, creators of Jewish Art have reflected the values of Jewish religion and culture in their works, while utilising the techniques of their times.
Just as artists in the Mishna and Talmud period learned about mosaics from the Roman world and used them to decorate their synagogues, today's artists embrace a wide range of ideas from other peoples and cultures, using them to create modern Jewish art.
A mandala is a round figure comprised of circles of increasing size filled with drawings and graphic symbols centred around a common point.
The word "mandala" comes from the ancient Indian language - Sanskrit -meaning "circle". Works designed in the mandala format are mostly identified with cultures from the Indian sub-continent, where they are attributed with religious meaning.
Similar shapes were used in Central American cultures, in Muslim Persia and Christian Europe. However, some modern day artists have adopted the aesthetic properties of the mandala without any religious connotations.
An original work of modern Jewish art based on the mandala shape was created for the Festivals 2021 Stamp Series, focussing on the sequence of blessings known as "Kingship, Remembrances and Shofars".
The command to recite these blessings appears in the Babylonian Talmud (Rosh Hashanah Tractate, 34b) which says "The Holy One, blessed be He. Recite before Me on Rosh Hashanah the verses of - Kingship, Remembrance and Shofars".
Kingship, so that you will make Me (God) King over you. Remembrance, so that the remembrance of you will arise before Me for good." How will this be accomplished is with the Shofar". (A shofar is an ancient musical horn typically made of a Ram's horn, used for Jewish religious purposes).
These three blessings are incorporated into the Musaf prayer on Rosh Hashanah and recited one after the other, as part of the Amidah. Each blessing is comprised of prayer sections and ten biblical verses related to one of the other three topics. The shofar is blown after each blessing.
The First Day Cover (FDC) has the three Blessings stamps affixed at top right. At left is an impression of a "Mandala".
The special Cancellation Handstamp/Postmark bears the date of cancellation - "08.09.2020".
The stamp of 2.5 NIS is dedicated to the "Kingship" blessing features a crown in the centre, with additional crowns surrounding it. Some are Torah crowns and others are shaped like the "crown" of a pomegranate. Also included on the stamp is a biblical verse.
A Block (set of four stamps).
A Full Sheet (FS) bearing eight stamps.
At the centre of the stamp of 7.40 NIS is dedicated to the "Remembrance" blessing, there is a star, a reminder of the blessing given to Abraham as part of the Covenant of the Pieces. Birds and fire torches, which are mentioned in the description of the covenant, appearing the outer circles. The stamp also features a religious verse from Leviticus.
A Block (set of four stamps)
A Full Sheet (FS) consisting of eight Stamps.
A Shofar is featured at the centre of the stamp of 8.40 NIS dedicated to the "Shofar" blessing, surrounded by motifs of Jerusalem to represent the concept of the shofar as heralding the "Redemption". The stamp features a verse from Exodus.
A Block (set of four stamps).
A Full Sheet (FS) consisting of eight Stamps.
Technical Details:
Stamp Issue Date: 08.09.2020
Printer: Cartor Security Printing, France
Process: Offset
3) "Damascus Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Third Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2018 (with the year of issue as 2019):
4) "New Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Fourth Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Isral Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2019
5) "Golden Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Fifth Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2019
18) Murals in Israel: A set of three stamps of the values of 4.10 NIS, 5.00 NIS and 6.50 NIS issued by Israel Postal Company (Israel Post): Date of Stamp set issue: 08.09.2020
19) Modern Jewish Art Mandalas, Israel: Stamps issued by Israel Postal Company (Israel Post) on three Blessings - Kingship (2.50 NIS), Remembrances (7.40 NIS), Shofar (8.30 NIS): Date of Stamp set issue: 08.09.2020
"Views of Jerusalem" Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series:
2) The City of David: Fourth Coin in the Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series issued by ICMC, Israel & the Holy Land Mint, Israel (2019)
3) The Western Wall, Israel: Sixth Coin in the "Views of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins minted by the Israel Coins & Medals Corporation (ICMC) Ltd: Year of Coins issue: 2020
"Ancient Cities of the Holy Land Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series":
1) Old Jaffa, Israel: The "Ancient Cities of the Holy Land" Gold & Silver Bullion Coin Series minted by the Israel Coinsand Medals Corporation (ICMC) through the Holy Land Mint: Date of issue: 01.03.2020
5) i) A 50 Jordanian Dinar Banknote from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan ii) Other Banknotes from the 4th Series of Banknote issues from the Central Bank of Jordan
An original work of modern Jewish art based on the mandala shape was created for the Festivals 2021 Stamp Series, focussing on the sequence of blessings known as "Kingship, Remembrances and Shofars".
The command to recite these blessings appears in the Babylonian Talmud (Rosh Hashanah Tractate, 34b) which says "The Holy One, blessed be He. Recite before Me on Rosh Hashanah the verses of - Kingship, Remembrance and Shofars".
Kingship, so that you will make Me (God) King over you. Remembrance, so that the remembrance of you will arise before Me for good." How will this be accomplished is with the Shofar". (A shofar is an ancient musical horn typically made of a Ram's horn, used for Jewish religious purposes).
These three blessings are incorporated into the Musaf prayer on Rosh Hashanah and recited one after the other, as part of the Amidah. Each blessing is comprised of prayer sections and ten biblical verses related to one of the other three topics. The shofar is blown after each blessing.
The First Day Cover (FDC) has the three Blessings stamps affixed at top right. At left is an impression of a "Mandala".
The special Cancellation Handstamp/Postmark bears the date of cancellation - "08.09.2020".
The stamp of 2.5 NIS is dedicated to the "Kingship" blessing features a crown in the centre, with additional crowns surrounding it. Some are Torah crowns and others are shaped like the "crown" of a pomegranate. Also included on the stamp is a biblical verse.
At the centre of the stamp of 7.40 NIS is dedicated to the "Remembrance" blessing, there is a star, a reminder of the blessing given to Abraham as part of the Covenant of the Pieces. Birds and fire torches, which are mentioned in the description of the covenant, appearing the outer circles. The stamp also features a religious verse from Leviticus.
A Full Sheet (FS) consisting of eight Stamps.
Technical Details:
Stamp Issue Date: 08.09.2020
Printer: Cartor Security Printing, France
Process: Offset
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:
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:
3) "Damascus Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Third Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2018 (with the year of issue as 2019):
4) "New Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Fourth Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Isral Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2019
5) "Golden Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Fifth Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2019
Birds of Israel Coin Series:
Other interesting posts from Israel:
19) Modern Jewish Art Mandalas, Israel: Stamps issued by Israel Postal Company (Israel Post) on three Blessings - Kingship (2.50 NIS), Remembrances (7.40 NIS), Shofar (8.30 NIS): Date of Stamp set issue: 08.09.2020
"Views of Jerusalem" Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series:
2) The City of David: Fourth Coin in the Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series issued by ICMC, Israel & the Holy Land Mint, Israel (2019)
3) The Western Wall, Israel: Sixth Coin in the "Views of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins minted by the Israel Coins & Medals Corporation (ICMC) Ltd: Year of Coins issue: 2020
"Ancient Cities of the Holy Land Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series":
1) Old Jaffa, Israel: The "Ancient Cities of the Holy Land" Gold & Silver Bullion Coin Series minted by the Israel Coinsand Medals Corporation (ICMC) through the Holy Land Mint: Date of issue: 01.03.2020
For some other interesting posts from Italy/The Vatican, please visit the following links:
Some other interesting links to posts on this blog on Currencies of the Middle-East:
5) i) A 50 Jordanian Dinar Banknote from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan ii) Other Banknotes from the 4th Series of Banknote issues from the Central Bank of Jordan
Some other interesting posts from the African Continent on this blog:
15) Archosauria (The Rise of the Dinosaurs): "Natura series" of Five Gold Coins from the "Palaeontology Collection": A set of Gold Coins brought out by the South african Mint in 2018
16) New Circulation coins Series, Kenya: introduced by the Central Bank of Kenya on 11.12.2018
17) Sudan: A 100 Pounds Banknote being issued by the Central Bank of Sudan by End February 2019
18) Algeria: i) Introduction of two new denominations of 500 and 1,000 Algerian Dinars (AD), which will kick-start the new "Fifth Series of Algerian Dinar Banknotes" ii) A 100 Algerian Dinar tri-metallic coin which wil replace the 100 Dinar circulating Banknote of the same denomination
19) South Africa: "The Big Five Silver Coin Series": 1) First Coin in the Series brought out by the South African Mint features the African Elephant on a Five Rand Coin as the first variant issued in 02/2019: 2) Later Coin issues will feature the Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros and the Buffalo
20) 25 Years of Constitutional Democracy in South africa (SA25): Celebrating the milestone with the issue of six circulation coins (R2 five coins & R5 one Coin) and three Commemorative Coins (Gold R500, Sterling Silver R50 & Bronze Alloy R50) issued by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) in partnership with the South African Mint: Coin release dats: 04/2019 & 05/2019
21) Dr. Tawhida Ben Chiekh (1910-2010), Tunisia: A new 10 Dinar Banknote issued by the "Banque Centrale de Tunisie" (Central Bank of Tunisia) honouring the pioneering doctor, who replaces Dido (Queen Elissa), the founder & first Queen of Carthage on the 10 Dinar Banknote: Date of Banknote issue: 27.03.2020
16) New Circulation coins Series, Kenya: introduced by the Central Bank of Kenya on 11.12.2018
17) Sudan: A 100 Pounds Banknote being issued by the Central Bank of Sudan by End February 2019
18) Algeria: i) Introduction of two new denominations of 500 and 1,000 Algerian Dinars (AD), which will kick-start the new "Fifth Series of Algerian Dinar Banknotes" ii) A 100 Algerian Dinar tri-metallic coin which wil replace the 100 Dinar circulating Banknote of the same denomination
19) South Africa: "The Big Five Silver Coin Series": 1) First Coin in the Series brought out by the South African Mint features the African Elephant on a Five Rand Coin as the first variant issued in 02/2019: 2) Later Coin issues will feature the Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros and the Buffalo
20) 25 Years of Constitutional Democracy in South africa (SA25): Celebrating the milestone with the issue of six circulation coins (R2 five coins & R5 one Coin) and three Commemorative Coins (Gold R500, Sterling Silver R50 & Bronze Alloy R50) issued by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) in partnership with the South African Mint: Coin release dats: 04/2019 & 05/2019
21) Dr. Tawhida Ben Chiekh (1910-2010), Tunisia: A new 10 Dinar Banknote issued by the "Banque Centrale de Tunisie" (Central Bank of Tunisia) honouring the pioneering doctor, who replaces Dido (Queen Elissa), the founder & first Queen of Carthage on the 10 Dinar Banknote: Date of Banknote issue: 27.03.2020
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very colourful Jewish Art."
A very well thought of initiative by Israel post, Trikha sahab.
DeleteSantosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Super".
Thank you, Khanna sahab.
Delete