Festival stamps 5744 (1983)Festival stamps 5744 (1983)

Festival stamps 5744 (1983)Festival stamps 5744 (1983)

  • Issue: August 1983
  • Designer: A. Berg
  • Stamp size: 40 x 25.7 mm
  • Plate no.: 61 - 64
  • Sheet of 15 stamps Tabs: 5
  • Printers: E. Lewin-Epstein Ltd.
  • Method of printing: Photolithography

The central synagogue of the Sephardi community - a charming building planned and constructed by the architect I. Berlin, has stood for some 55 years at the heart of Tel Aviv, in Shadal St. It is regarded as the most beautiful synagogue in Israel and one of the finest in all the Orient.

The synagogue boasts among its founders, the late Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel - Rabhi Benzion Meir Hai Uzziel and two honoured elders of the Sepnardi community-Shalom Aharon Levi and Shlomo Yitzhaq Cohen who donated the site and a large sum of money for the construction of the building which also houses the Rabbi Uzziel Yeshiva. The synagogue serves as the spiritual and communal centre of the Sephardi community of Greater Tel Aviv.

The style of the building is Byzantine. The dome is in the form of 1 5 polygonal steps, mirroring the 1 5 Songs of Degrees in the Book of Psalms. The synagogue has become an historic site and attracts tourists from all over the world. It has served as the seat of the Sephardi Chief Rabbis Uzziel and Toledano and a Minister of Religious Affairs and currently, Rabbis Obadya Yosef and Haim David Halevi.

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The YESHURUN Society was founded in the year'1924 in Jerusalem and had among its aims, the erection of an impressive synagogue in the centre of Jerusalem in which the services would follow a standard ritual. In the course of time, the ritual, developed at Yeshurun, has been copied by other congregations both in Israel and abroad.

The cornerstone of the present synagogue was laid in the spring of 1934 in the presence of Rabbi Yitzhaq Ha-Cohen Kook, Rabbi Benzion Uzziel, the then High Commissioner Sir Arthur Wauchope, and numerous representatives of the Jewish community.

The building was designed by the architects Meir Rubin and Dr. A. Freedman and its construction was completed in 1936.

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The OHEL AHARON Synagogue situated on the campus of the Haifa Technion on Mt. Carmel, was consecrated in 1969. Designed by the Technion architect Aharon Kashtan as "a House of Prayer, a House of Study and a Meeting Place", its construction was made possible through the generosity of the Jesselson family of New York.

At the centre of the square interior is the "almemar" (the podium from which the Tora is recited) which is surrounded by rows of benches all facing inwards.

The building is supported on four pillars - a construction which provides an open space underneath for the holding of various ceremonies and social activities. The roof has the shape of an inverted monastic vault made up of steps gradually increasing in height from the centre towards the outer edge. The design of the interior reflects traditional synagogue-style elements found in Central Europe, Portugal and North Africa. The principal materials used for the construction are unfinished concrete and Galilee marble. The furnishings are all of heavy timber, while the courtyard which contains a work by the sculptor Zvi Aldovi -"the High Priest's Breastplate" - is paved in natural stone.

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The design of the Eliyahu Khalaschi Synagogue in Beer Sheva derives its inspiration from the tent that our forefathers put up in Beer Sheva - "and he went up from thence to Beer Sheva... and pitched his tent there" (Genesis 26. 23-25). The building is designed in a modern style, made of cast concrete, and is in the shape of a tent, rising to a height of 18 meters ("18" in Hebrew numerals forms the word "HAl" = Life).

The building is constructed as a single chamber, without columns or partitions, and its base is in the shape of the Star of David. The sidewalls of the tent form windows to provide light and ventilation. They are constructed of iron grills repeating the Star of David motif which is further emphasized by the blue and white illuminated glass inserts. The apex of the tent is of a transparent plastic material which admits the daylight. At night the interior is illuminated, so that from afar it resembles a shining star. The architect was Nahum Zolotov.

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Festival stamps 5744 (1983)