Synagogue stamps

The synagogue has been at the center of Jewish life ever since the Jewish people left Egypt and erected the Tabernacle that traveled with them. It has also been featured on postage stamps to note historical events and to demonstrate Israel’s relationship with other countries. One of the most historic buildings in Tel Aviv is the Ohel Moed Synagogue. Its name means “tabernacle,” which refers to the one the Jews built and which accompanied them in the desert. As part of a High Holy Day set of stamps, Israel released a stamp in 1983 showing the synagogue building and the stamp reproduction on the first day cover.

As the public symbol of various Jewish communities around the world, the synagogue was often the target when the Jewish community was attacked. Kristallnacht – “the night of broken glass” – occurred when Nazi Germany incited riots against Jewish communities throughout Germany and Austria. Hundreds of synagogues were destroyed during the riots. West Germany marked the 50th anniversary of what was also called the “Pogrom of November 9, 1938,” with the issuance of a stamp showing the Berlin Oranienburgerstrasse Synagogue in flames. The first day cover bearing the stamp stated, “Pogrom Vom 9 November 1938.” This release from West Germany demonstrates that nation’s regret of the occurrence and its good relations with the State of Israel.

Another demonstration of the centrality of the synagogue was shown on a stamp issued by the Netherlands in 2011. A series of stamps was released to mark the 100th anniversary of the De Bond Heemschut Preservation Society. Each stamp showed a historic building that had been restored by the society. One of the stamps featured the Folkingestraat Synagogue of Groningen.

A demonstration of many countries’ good relationships with Israel is shown when it issues a stamp that features a synagogue, which is also seen as a representative of the Jewish people. The Netherlands Antilles features the Mikveh Israel-Emanuel Synagogue located in Curacao, which was built in 1732.

The souvenir sheet showing the stamp also depicts the Western Wall in the background. The stamp was released to commemorate the “Israel ‘98 World Stamp Exhibition.”

The Chapel of the Four Chaplains commemorates one of the most courageous acts in American history. On February 3, 1943, the S.S. Dorchester carrying American troops and four chaplains was hit by torpedoes and began to sink in the icy Atlantic Ocean. It became apparent that there were insufficient life jackets for the surviving sailors. Each of the four chaplains gave up their life jackets to sailors who then survived. The four chaplains went down with the ship. A 1948 United States stamp marked the event.

A chapel in memory of the four chaplains was originally dedicated in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. In February 2001 it was moved to Philadelphia’s Naval Shipyard.

A mailed envelope from the Chapel’s Foundation is shown (right).

The writer is the author of Synagogue Stamps: An International Postage Tour of Synagogues. danwol4311@gmail.com