2002.11.26   Israel Menorah Definitives
The seven-branched menorah is the national emblem of the State of Israel, and regarded as the symbol of the Jewish people from the time of the Second Temple. 

The histroy of menorah can be dated back to more than 2000 years ago. The menorah is one of the three artifacts, the Table of Showbread, incense altar and the seven-branched menorah made of pure gold, particular only to the Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The Bible contains description's of both the seven-branched menorah and the menorah in the vision of the prophet Zechariah. With the destruction of the First Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon (588 B.C.E) the menorah was taken, along with other treasures, from the Temple to Babylon and its fate was unknown. When the Second Temple was built a new golden menorah was made, probably from the original mold, and this was sanctified for hundreds of years until the destruction of the Second Temple by the Roman army led by Tiur (70 C.E.) The Roman army paraded with the sacred vessels in their triumphal procession throughout the streets of Rome. An illustration of the procession was engraved in a stone victory arch, which was built in Rome and shows the Judean prisoners carrying the sacred vessels with the seven-branched menorah in the center. 
 

Issue Date 26 November 2002
Designs NIS 0.30, menorah
NIS 1.00, menorah
Stamp size 25.7 x 40 mm
Designer Igal Gaby
Printing rotograuve
Printers Enschede, Holland
Sheet 50 stamps (10 tabs)

 
Original information and image from Israel Philately Federation and Stamp Cafe Web Site