Druze Leader: Sheikh Ameen Tarif (1898-1993) Stamp

The stamp issued April 2003, shows a portrait of the Sheikh; on the left side of the stamp is pictured part of the Tomb of Shu’eib (“Jethro’s Tomb), one of the Drize holy places renovated by the Sheikh. Sheikh Ameen Tarif, Druze spiritual leader and President of the Druze Appeal Court was born into a religious family that headed the Druze community since 1753. He was appointed Druze leader after the death of his father Sheikh Tarif, who held that position from 1889-1828. In 1990 Ameen Tarif was awarded the Israel Prize for Special Contribution to Society and Country, for his “creative and constructive leadership of the Druze community during a period of over 60 years, in exemplary manner to both Druze community and Israel society”. He supported development of a close alliance between his community and the Jewish State, resulting in compulsory military service being extended to the Druze in 1956. The stamp with an information sheet are enclosed in a plastic protection sheet