Issues memorialize Israeli Holocaust

An anniversary to remember.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Yad Vashem -- the official Israeli Holocaust Remembrance Authority -- the Israel Postal Authority will release a set of two 2.20 shekel stamps.
Situated on Har Hazikaron (the Mount of Remembrance) in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem today covers 45 acres. It includes a historical museum, an art museum containing a collection from the Holocaust period, the Hall of Names listing the names of millions of Holocaust victims, a library and an education center.
The Knesset (Israeli Parliament) established Yad Vashem to commemorate the memory of the six million Jews killed by the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II. Israeli officials declare that another function of the memorial is to preserve the rich heritage of the thousands of Jewish communities that were destroyed.
The first stamp features a teddy bear displaying a yellow Star of David, which ghetto inmates were forced to wear by the Nazis. A story tells that the teddy bear with the star accompanied a young girl as she and her family fled to Siberia.
The second stamp depicts a list of Jewish forced laborers in the "Hassag" factory in Poland. Most of these laborers did not survive the holocaust, either being shot or transported to the Treblinka concentration camp. Also shown is the yellow star transformed into the now accepted blue Star of David.
The pair of stamps will be released after Tuesday. They'll be available at your local stamp dealer.
Spiritual role
The Israel Postal Authority also announced the issuance of a set of three stamps to celebrate the Jewish New Year Festivals of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Succoth. The stamps highlight the important spiritual role of olive oil in Jewish history.
Featured on the 1.30 shekel stamp is the olive before being processed into olive oil. The 1.90 shekel stamp displays an old-fashioned crushing mill and storage jar used for the production of olive oil. The 2.30 shekel stamp depicts a clear glass jug of olive oil that continues to be consumed today.
The olive branch has become a symbol of peace to all nations and today is part of Israel's official emblem.
The New Year's stamps also will be available after Tuesday at your local stamp dealer.