Hanukkah Series

Hanukkah is a celebration of a miracle that occurred at the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BCE, when the Maccabees revolted against Syrian King Antiochus IV. According to tradition, the temple was reclaimed, but only enough purified oil was on hand to keep its light burning for one night. Yet the lamp burned for eight days, allowing the Maccabees time to purify more oil. From that time, Jewish people celebrate the “Festival of Lights” each year for eight days. Since 1996, the US has issued Hanukkah stamps to commemorate this joyous holiday.

The first American Hanukkah stamp (US # 3118) was released as a joint-issue with Israel. It was then reissued in 1999 with a 33¢ denomination (US #3352) and again in 2001 with a 34¢ denomination (US #3547). In 2002, the design was pressed into service one more time with a 37¢ denomination (US #3672).

Hanukkah traditions include singing, chanting blessings, exchanging gifts, and spinning the dreidel in children’s games of chance. Dreidels commonly bear a Hebrew letter on each side, the first letters of words which mean “a great miracle happened there (in Israel)”. This design was used again in 2006, when it was issued with a 39¢ value (US #4118), in 2007 with a 41¢ denomination (US #4219), and 2008 with a 42¢ value (US #4372).