The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is introducing a new Forever stamp in celebration of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, a significant holiday observed by Jewish communities globally. This new stamp, featuring a hanukkiah—the traditional nine-branched candelabrum used in Hanukkah celebrations—will be released at a public event in Washington, D.C.
Michael Gordon, the government liaison director for the Postal Service, will oversee the first-day-of-issue ceremony scheduled for Thursday, September 19, at 11 a.m. ET. The event will take place at the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, located at 575 Third St. NW. The ceremony is open to the public and attendees are encouraged to RSVP through the USPS dedicated event page at usps.com/hanukkahstamp.
This year’s Hanukkah stamp is designed by Antonio Alcalá. It showcases an ink drawing of the hanukkiah with a backdrop of blue, and the candle flames highlighted in yellow. The design is intended to evoke a sense of human touch with its irregular line work, digitally enhanced to bring the imagery to life.
Hanukkah is celebrated over eight days and nights, starting with the lighting of the hanukkiah. The holiday is rich with traditions including playing games, singing songs, and enjoying festive foods like fried delicacies, in homage to the miraculous story of the oil that lasted eight days in the ancient Holy Temple of Jerusalem.
The USPS has been commemorating Hanukkah with themed stamps for several years, with each edition capturing an element of the holiday’s spirit and heritage. This year’s stamp aims to continue this tradition by encapsulating the warmth and communal joy of Hanukkah.
The Postal Service has launched a social media campaign accompanying the stamp release, encouraging the public to share the news using the hashtag #HanukkahStamp.
For more details on the new Hanukkah stamp and other offerings, visit the Stamps Forever website.
