2022 Hanukkah Forever First Class Postage Stamps

In 2022, the U.S, Postal Service celebrates the joyous Jewish holiday of Hanukkah with a stamp.The stamp art features an original wallhanging. The fiber art was hand-dyed, appliquéd, and quited to form an abstract image of ahanukiah, the nine-branch candelabra used only at Hanukkah. The blue and purple fabrics represent the sky, and the greens andbrowns represent the earth. The bright yellows and oranges represent the Festival of Lights, as Hanukkah is also known.
Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew. The story of Hanukkah begins with the victory of the Maccabees, an army of Jewishfighters, over the forces of the Hellenic emperor Antiochus lv, whose supporters had desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem bybuilding an altar to the Greek god Zeus. After reclaiming the Temple and preparing to rededicate the holy space, the worshippersdiscovered that only one small jar of consecrated ol remained, enough to last one day, Rather than wait for more ol to arrive, theyre-lit the Temple menorah, which miraculously burned for eight days.
The miracle of the oil is celebrated during Hanukkah with the ceremonial lighting of the hanukiah. The hanukiah holds eightcandles, one for each night of Hanukkah, and the shamash, the servant or helper candle used to light the others, The candle forthe first night is put on the far right side of the menorah. On each subsequent night, an additional candle is placed to theimmediate left of the previous night’s candle. The candles are lit from left to right, so that the lighting begins with the newestcandle. Families might recite blessings each night, one before the lighting and one as the candles are lit; a third blessing, known asthe Shehecheyanu, is recited only on the first night of Hanukkah, as it is on other special family occasions, Some families take this
opportunity to explain more about their heritage and the symbolism behind the ritual.Two of the favorite Hanukkah foods recall the miracle of the oil. Latkes–fried potato pancakes-are a particular favorite, as aredoughnuts called sufganiyot., Some recipes have been handed down for generations, and the preparation of the foods during theholidays is frequently a family affair.
Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, a date that falls in late November or December, in 2022, Hanukkah
beqins at sundown on December 18.Jeanette Kuvin Oren was the stamp desianer and artist. Ethel Kessler was the art director.Hanukkah is being issued in panes of 20 Forever® stamps. This Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current FirstClass Mail@ one-ounce price.
Made in the USA