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.