Festival Stamps, Paper cutting Stamp

Issued September 1989. Cutting shapes from paper was a ritualistic folk art among Jews in which symmetrical, decorative and symbolic forms of religious appurtenances, animals and lettering were painstakingly crafted. As opposed to paper-cuts found in other cultures, among the Jews it is very rare to find human profiles or landscapes. In the centre of the paper-cut there generally appears one of the traditional Jewish symbols, the Seven Branched Candelabra, the two Tablets of Stone or the Torah Scroll. These are usually surrounded by motifs from the animal world, or plants or fruits, or by geometric forms.

Misrah-Dinsbach, Germany, 1818 – The lettering on this Misrah paper-cut indicates that is was made as a wedding present for a friend by Shimon Papleunelach of Dinsbach. In the upper half there is a plate in the form of a sign, supported by two lions, and on it is written the word “Misrah” (East), and the verse “On this side is the spirit of life”.

Misrah – Ukraina, 1921 – This paper-cut looks like a sort of lace tablecloth: the Menorah on top of which is the word Misrah, is placed in the centre of some lush vegetation, intertwined in which are pairs of animals and a two-headed eagle, all in very light colours. The name of the artisit “Gadoliahu Neminsky, Holbenisk, Pola . .  Winter 5681” (1921) are hand-written in pen at the bottom left.

Misrah, Morocco, 19th or early 20th Century – The form of the Menorah is seen in this paper-cut, at the sides of which are a pair of hands with its fingers spread in the manner traditionally used by the Cohanim (priestly tribe) when uttering their blessing. A verse written within the inner border is taken from this blessing. On the left palm and on the left side of the Menorah can be found Psalm 76, on its right side and on the right palm is Psalm 121.

The stamps with an information sheet are enclosed in a plastic protection sheet