Stamps: September '97
Guests in the Sukkah ("Ushpizin")
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David
 
    Issue: September 1997
    Artist: E. Lorentsov
    Size: 25.7mm x 40mm
    Plates #: 323, 324, 325
    Sheet of 15 stamps
    Tabs: 5
    Printers: Government Printers
    Printing Method: Offset
o celebrate the festival of Sukkot, Jews sit in a Sukkah, a hut commemorating the dwellings which the Israelites used in the exodus from Egypt.

When poor people are invited into the Sukkah, the Ushpizin may also visit. They are the fathers of the Jewish nation: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David.

Abraham

After his father left Ur Casdim, Abraham, father of the Jewish nation, completed the journey and arrived in the Land of Canaan. Abraham fought idolatry and disseminated the belief in one God.

Isaac

Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. When God commanded Abraham to kill Isaac on mount Moriah, Abraham built an altar, laid wood and bound Isaac on it. As he was about to strike, an angel called to Abraham to stay his hand.

Jacob

Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebeccah, younger twin to Esau, appropriated Esau's blessing by deception. He fled, and one night, alone and penniless, he dreamed of a ladder reaching to both heaven and earth, with angels ascending and descending it. Upon waking, he said, "The Lord is in this place; and I did not know it." (Genesis 28;16).

Joseph

The son of Jacob and Rachel, Joseph's brothers sold him to the Ishrnaelites. Joseph was taken to Egypt, where he became a houseservant. After a scandal involving his master's wife, he was imprisoned (his master was the Pharoah's jailer). In prison, he became known as an interpreter of dreams, and after successfully interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, he was appointed viceroy.

Moses

Born in Egypt when male Hebrew newborns were to be killed, Moses was rescued and raised by Pharoah's daughter herself. A shepherd, God appeared to him as a burning bush and charged him with leading the Hebrews out of Egypt.

Aaron

Moses' younger brother helped lead the Hebrews out of Egypt and was the first High Priest. His sons served as priests in the Tabernacle and in the Temple.

David

After the reign of Saul, David was anointed King of Israel by the prophet Samuel. He united the tribes of Israel and made Jerusalem the capital of his kingdom. Tradition attributes to him the authorship of the Book of Psalms and legend tells that his lyre hung above his bed, and that on the stroke of midnight a northern wind would blow and it would play of its own accord.
Dr. Dov Herman
Bar-Ilan University