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The stamps of Israel are among the official and national symbols of the State. Like the flag, the national anthem and currency, stamps immortalize themes and content having to do with the people, the land and the State. The small stamp is a large ambassador, spreading messages throughout the world and serving as a source of vital, condensed information. Due to the stamp’s miniature size, each line and dot is meaningful. Study of a country’s stamps illustrates the culture, tradition and landscapes which set it apart as well as unique events that the country has chosen to mark.
Stamp collecting is an enriching and intriguing hobby that never gets old. It is suitable for all ages and can bridge the generation gap. Quality time spent by a father and son or by a grandmother and her grandchild taking part in this experiential hobby is incomparably enjoyable and satisfying.
Because of the stamp’s values and educational status and in honor of the State of Israel’s 60th anniversary celebrations, the Israeli Ministry of Education and the Israel Postal Company’s Philatelic Service announced a stamp designing competition called “School Stamp” for elementary, middle and high school students. The art studies supervisory and instructional team and school art teachers led the project in the various school districts.
Each school held an internal “School Stamp” design competition based on the school’s activities in the context of Israel’s 60th anniversary celebrations. A process of research and study regarding the content of the stamps’ themes preceded the competition. After researching thoroughly, the students moved into the final stage of translating those contents into graphic art and the actual designing of the stamp.
The competition initially took place at the class level, after which each school held its own school-wide competition. In the end, the winning drawing was chosen democratically and printed on personal sheets of “My Own Stamp”. The winning stamp became the official school stamp and is used for posting mail, affixed to students’ report cards and complete sheets of the “School Stamp” are given as gifts and unique souvenirs to honored school guests.
Three representative designs were chosen from among the hundreds of drawings that advanced to final judging after being submitted by schools all around the country. These designs were not only issued on “My Own Stamp” sheets, but also as official State of Israel stamps. During the course of the project the students were exposed to the characteristics and principles of stamps and they discovered the cultural wealth hidden within. The hundreds of drawings that reached the final stage of the competition attest to the great interest the students expressed in the project, as well as to their talent, creativity and originality.
The stamps that were chosen are faithful representations of the fact that the students of Israel see the State as their home and that they pray, along with the rest of us, for days of joy and light.
I congratulate all those involved in the project and wish us all a fruitful and calm 60th year.
Prof. Yuli Tamir
Minister of Education
