Postal Service Issues Commemorative Stamp Celebrating Eight-Day Jewish Holiday

What:

The U.S. Postal Service is issuing its ninth Hanukkah stamp, continuing its tradition of honoring the eight-day Jewish holiday observed by millions of people in the United States and around the world.

While the first-day-of-issue event for the Hanukkah stamp is free to the public, an individual RSVP is required for admission. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #HanukkahStamp.

Who:

David Steiner, USPS postmaster general, will be the dedicating official

When:

Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m. Central

Where:

Touro Synagogue

4238 St. Charles Ave.

New Orleans, LA 70115

RSVP:

Each attendee must register at: usps.com/Hanukkahstamp.

Background:

With the release of this new stamp, the Postal Service continues its long tradition of celebrating the joyous Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4.

Hanukkah festivities begin on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, a date that typically falls in late November or December. Traditional celebrations include singing holiday songs and eating traditional fried foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot, to commemorate the miracle of the oil.

Antonio Alcala, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original artwork by illustrator Lisa Perrin, featuring a dark blue dreidel with rust-colored Hebrew letters set against a turquoise background. Framing the dreidel are decorative elements like flowers and foliage in light and dark orange, cream and shades of blue.

The Hanukkah stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20. This stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.