Jerusalem Views On Stamps

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, issued by the Palestinian Authority on September 1, 1994.

Issued in 4 different colors and value in a set about "Historic Sites and Monuments"

The Sigd Festival is a religious and cultural holiday celebrated by the Ethiopian Jewish community, known as Beta Israel. It is centered on themes of renewal, repentance, and the longing for Jerusalem. Traditionally, Ethiopian Jews would ascend a high mountain, fast, and pray for their return to Zion and the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple.

Since the mass aliyah (immigration) of Ethiopian Jews to Israel, the Sigd has taken on new significance. Today, it is celebrated in Jerusalem on a mountain overlooking the Old City. The festival includes communal prayers, readings from the Orit (Ethiopian Torah), and speeches by religious and community leaders. It symbolizes not only the historical yearning for Jerusalem but also the fulfillment of that dream through the community's presence in Israel. In 2008, Sigd was recognized as an official holiday in Israel, highlighting its role in preserving Ethiopian Jewish heritage and identity.

Sigd festival in Jerusalem, issued by Israel on November 26, 2019.

The Ethiopian Jewish community lived in complete isolation from other Jewish communities for many centuries, until the mid-20th century when many Ethiopians were came to Israel. For this reason, the Ethiopian Jewish community, called the Beta Israel, developed many holidays and celebrations that do not exist in other Jewish communities.

Aliyah of Ethiopian Jewry, designed by Y. Gabay together with Almo Ishta, an Ethiopian-Israeli designer, issued by Israel on April 12, 2011. The stamp shows the Old Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and the Tab shows Ethiopian village and the old city of Jerusalem.

Israel had a very good relations with Iran ruled by the Shah Pahlavi. In 1979, the Islamic Revolution culminated in the overthrow of the Imperial State of Iran. Pahlavi was replaced by religious cleric Ayatollah Khomeini who founded the theocratic Islamic Republic of Iran. The new regime severed all relations with Israel and since acts against Israel in military and diplomatic ways.

International Ghods Day ('Jerusalem Day') is an annual pro-Palestinian event in Iran held on the holy month of Ramadan to express support for Palestinians and oppose Israel and Zionism. It takes its name from the Arabic name for Jerusalem: al-Quds. Iran issued many stamps publicizing Ghods Day. Most of them show the Dome of the Rock and have anti-Israeli images and slogans. Here is a small selection of them issued during the 1980's.

In 2024, a stamp dedicated to the New Jerusalem Resurrection Monastery was published in the "Orthodox Monasteries" series. The area of the city of Istra, where the monastery is located, is simply called Jerusalem. There is the Garden of Gethsemane, the Jordan River, and Mount Tabor.

Many thanks Alexey for the nice item. Nice to see you again. Here is one from USSR.

Palm Sunday is a Christian movable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday is celebrated by the blessing and distribution of palm branches (shown on the left) or the branches of other native trees representing the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Christ as he rode into Jerusalem.

Palm Sunday in Lithuania, issued by the USSR on October 4, 1991 in a set shows different folk festivals of the different 15 soviet republics.

Since palm trees grow very poorly and rarely (not at all) in Eastern Europe, Christians use willow branches on Palm Sunday. In Lithuania, willow bouquets (kazimirki) are made from willow and other dried plants. They are depicted on a USSR postage stamp. In Russia, simple willow branches are a symbol of Easter.

Thank you very much, Alexey, for your contribution and the explanation about the willow branches on Palm Sunday


Jerusalem is located in the area called Judean Hills (the territory of the old Kingdom of Judea),

Definitive stamps, issued by Israel on March 2, 1954.
- Shaar Hagay, roughly translated to "The Valley Gate", the entrance of Jerusalem
- Olive tree in Judean Hills


The way to Jerusalem, issued by Israel on February 16, 1949. David Tower and the Old City of Jerusalem on the background.

The 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Israel, issued by Belarus on December 18, 2012. The right side shows the landscape of Judean Hills with the famous Barbary fig cactus plant (Opuntia ficus-indica).

The Lions' Gate

Lions' Gate also St Stephen's Gate, is one of the seven open Gates of the Old City of Jerusalem. Carved into the wall above the gate are four lions. Suleiman the Magnificent had the carvings made to celebrate the Ottoman defeat of the Mamluks in 1517. Legend has it that Suleiman's predecessor Selim I dreamed of lions that were going to eat him because of his plans to level the city. He was spared only after promising to protect the city by building a wall around it. This led to the lion becoming the heraldic symbol of Jerusalem.

Lions' Gate, issued by Israel on October 8, 1968 to publicize the international stamp exhibition, TABIRA.

Detail of Lions' Gate carvings


Lions' Gate, issued by Israel on April 17, 1972 to mark Israel Independence Day.

The Joint War Organization (JWO) was a combined operation of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem during the World Wars. It was first created in 1914 and ceased operations when World War I ended in 1919; the organization was re-formed upon the British entry into World War II in 1939 and was active until 1947.

The JWO coordinated medical aid, ambulance services, prisoner-of-war relief, and welfare support for soldiers and civilians during the WW's, combining the efforts of the two organizations.

Here is a Cinderella label aimed to collect donations, issued in British Palestine and Transjordan, probably during WWII. The right side features the Tower of David in Jerusalem.

A banknote issue by Israel in 1955 features the way to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem new light train, Stamp and ATM issued 2016 and 2018.

Archaeology in Jerusalem - reliefs and capital representing the three main religions in Jerusalem: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Issued by Israel on May 14, 1985.

- Crusader Capital, 12th-13th centuries - representing Christianity
- Relief, Jewish Quarter, 18th century - representing Judaism
- Relief, Ottoman Period, 18th century - representing Islam

Issued in SS publicizing the stamp exhibition held in.....Tel-Aviv!

Pope Paul VI Visit to Jerusalem and the Holy Land, Issued by Jordan on January 4, 1964. Each stamp shows the Pope and King Hussain of Jordan.

Al Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem

Dome of the Rock Mosque, Jerusalem

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

King David was the second King of the Kingdom of Israel and ruled it during the 10th century BCE.

King David, painting by Marc Chagall, issued by Israel on September 24, 1969.

King David, statue by Michelangelo, issued by the USSR on February 27, 1975.

King David was the first to establish Jerusalem as the political and spiritual capital of Israel. After becoming king, David conquered Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his royal residence, known as the City of David. He brought the Ark of the Covenant there, turning Jerusalem into the central place of worship for the Israelite tribes. This move laid the foundation for the city's lasting significance in Jewish history and its future role as the site of the Temple built by his son, Solomon.

Aerial view of City of David, issued by Israel on February 11, 2014.

The Ark of the Covenant, issued by Israel on July 16, 1985.

King David built his palace in Jerusalem with the help of Hiram, Phoenician king of Tyre (today Lebanon), issued by Israel on December 15, 2020.

Old Jerusalem, painting by Zeev Raban in 1925. It made in the ceramic workshop established in the Bezalel School of Art, Jerusalem, in 1922, by Ya'akov Eisenberg, student and teacher at Bezalel. The painting contains the Biblical phrase "Again I will build you, and you shall be built, virgin Israel!" (Jeremiah Chapter 31,3).

The SS issued by Israel on March 18, 2001 to publicize Jerusalem Stamp Exhibition 2001.