The national flag of the State of Israel is composed of a dark sky-blue Star of David and two stripes on a white background. The six-pointed Star of David has its origins in ancient times and much later on emerged as the symbol of the Jewish people (a hexagram on a flag first appearing among Jews in 14th century Prague).
The name Star of David, or Magen David (the Shield of David) derives from the legendary special powers of King David’s shield which saved the ‘children of Israel’ in battle. The blue colour was derived from biblical verse (Numbers 15:38) ‘…let them attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner…’. Additionally white and blue (and gold and purple) were the colors of the robes of the high priests (Exodus 28), and the Temple curtains (Exodus 26).
Over many decades, since 1949, the Israeli flag has featured on the stamps of the country as part of the motif. Over the next three months, in three separate blog posts, the Star of David on Israeli postal issue will be looked at.
It was the first Hovevei Zion (Lovers of Zion) societies that used the Star of David as a national symbol for the country. Those 19th century forerunners and foundation-builders of modern Zionism would see the symbol become representative of the worldwide Zionist community, and later the broader Jewish community, after it was chosen to represent the First Zionist Congress in 1897.
The national flag of the State of Israel depicting a blue Star of David on a white background, between two horizontal blue stripes was adopted on 28 October 1948, five months after the foundation of the country.
Designed by E. Weishoff and issued on 124 April 1966, this 0.12 Israeli Pound stamp (above) was a celebration of Israel’s 18th Independence Day. The stamp was one of a set of three stamps which depicted various festivities on the day: fireworks, special naval and air force maneuvers, and the flying of the Israeli flag from buildings. The tab features the emblem of the State of Israel, the menorah, and the inscription ‘Independence Day 5726-1966’.
The flag of Israel was featured on the 0.55 Israeli Pounds stamp (above) designed by Asher Kalderon and issued on 16 April 1969 to mark Memorial Day for the Fallen. The stamp shows the the Israeli flag at half-mast.
Designed by N. & M. Eshel, this 35 Israeli Shekels stamp issued on 26 April 1984 (above) marked the 50th Anniversary of the country’s National Labour Federation. Founded in 1934 in Jerusalem the Federation aimed to unite workers who believed that the solution of the country’s social and political problems lay in the teachings of Theodor Herzl (1860-1904), Max Nordau (1849-1923), and Ze’ev Jabotinsky (1880-1940), leader of the Zionist Revisionist Party. The stamp is illustrated with a worker holding the Israeli flag in one hand and an implement of labour in the other. The tab bears the Hebrew and English inscription, ’50th Anniversary of the National Labour Federation in Eretz Israel’.
Designed by H. Kivkovich, this 5 NIS stamp within a miniature souvenir sheet (above) was issued on 3 September 1996 to mark 100 years since the 1st Zionist Congress held in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897. The stamp is illustrated with the Casino building in Basel where the Congress was held.
Issued on 23 December 1997 and designed by journalist and political cartoonist Kariel Gardosh-Dosh (1921-2000), this stamp for use at the standard inland letter rate (above) was illustrated with the cartoon hero, Srulik.
Srulik was the creation of Gardosh-Dosh in the 1950s and the figure became a symbol of the nation and the State of Israel, wearing the tembel hat (the typical Israeli hat of past decades) and sandals. Israelis grew fond of Srulik and in cartoon appearances he accompanied all national events with prickly, amusing satire. Srulik is shown against the background of the Israeli flag.
In 1998 the Israeli flag was featured on a standby adhesive definitive stamp (not shown here) designed by Y. Gabay. It was issued on 17 December that year… an emergency issue due to a printers’ strike.
Designed by H. Kivkovich and issued on 3 August 1998, this 5.35 NIS stamp (above) celebrated the Israel Jubilee Exhibition, marking 50 years on independence. The exhibition was held at the Israel Trade Fair and Exhibition Grounds, Tel Aviv, in August 1998.
Designed by Asher Kalderon, and issued on 18 April 1999, this 2.30 NIS stamp celebrated the 50th anniversary of Israel’s admission to the UN, United Nations. The Israeli flag was hoisted at the UN on 11 May 1949.
Resources used in the construction of this blog include: (1) text on the website of the Israel Philatelic Federation
Visitors might like to look at the blog posts of January 2019 and August 2018 featuring: the Israeli bucket hat, or tembel hat and Theodor Herzl and the foundation of the state.
At some point in the future joint issues featuring the the Israeli flag and that of a second country will be shown in a blog post… not sure when yet.
Israeli postage stamps בולי דואר ישראליים 