Commemorating the High Holidays
Bible Illustrated
September 2001
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A number of stamps can be used to illustrate the Biblical readings that are part of the synagogue services on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
For instance, among the passages read on Rosh Hashana is Genesis 21, which tells of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, giving birth to Isaac. It also tells of her asking Abraham to banish his concubine Hagar and their son Ishmael. This chapter is read because tells of God remembering Sarah and answering her prayer for a child and also responding to Hagar and Ishmael's plight.
Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, and Hagar have appeared on stamps. Sarah was one of the four Matriarchs honored in Israel's 1977 New Year set (#638). She also appeared in a 1990 issue from 
Vatican City which illustrated Genesis 18:1-15 (she is on Israel #855 and the souvenir sheet, #857). Abraham is on the same set (Israel #853 and #857). He is also one of the Patriarchs shown in Israel's 1978 New Year set (#701), and is on a 1980 issue from Austria (#1161).
Isaac as one of the Patriarchs is featured on Israel 702. Hagar is depicted on a 1975 Italian issue (#1184).
After Genesis 21 is read, a passage is read from 1 Samuel, referring to to Hannah's prayer for a child being answered. Hannah appeared on a stamp (#885) in the New Year set issued by Israel in September 1984.
On the second day of Rosh Hashana (or on the first day in the Reform movement, which observes it as a one-day holiday), the story of the binding of Isaac (the Akedah) is read from Genesis 22. This story of
Abraham's willingness to obey God's command to sacrifice his son Isaac and God providing a ram as a substitute, has been the subject of sev- eral paintings which have been repr duced on stamps. These include a 1970 Yugoslavian stamp (#1037) and a 1983 Russian stamp (#5133).
After Genesis 22 is read, a passage from Jeremiah (31:1-20) is offered. It speaks of repentance and God's remembering — both themes of Rosh Hashana. Several Israel stamp tabs have quoted from this text. These include Israel #160, #353-4 (which was issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration in 1967 and quotes Jeremiah 31:17: "Your children shall come back to their own country.") and #508. That final stamp was issued in 1973 to commemorate the immigration of North African Jews to Israel.
Atonement...and the Profane
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