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Snapshots

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Stamps from around the world

portray Jewish personalities,

history and culture.

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SUZANNE CHESSLER

Special to the Jewish News

ports star Mark Spitz,
singer/actress Bette Midler
and Nobel Prize-winning
poet Joseph Brodsky have
two important connections in com-
mon — a tie to Judaism and postage
stamps created in their honor.
Their stamps, and some 1,500
others that relate to Jewish culture
or history around the world, are
shown and discussed in Ronald
Eisenberg's The Jewish World in

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ti-MigAM AIM"

12/20

2002

62

Stamps: 4,000 Years of Jewish
Civilization on Postage Stamps
(Schreiber Publishing; $36).
This recent release is intended for
a readership that goes way beyond
collectors.
"This book expresses the strong feel-
ings that I have about Judaism and the
Jewish community," says Eisenberg. "I
think of it as a way for Jews to learn
more about their heritage and for oth-
ers to learn about Judaism."
Besides showcasing the beauty in
these small works of art, reflecting
many styles and disciplines,
Eisenberg provides encyclopedia-
style information on the people and
subjects covered.
His chapters explore depictions of
Bible stories, religious traditions and
milestones in the development of
Israel, as well as the Holocaust,
world Jewish communities and
Jewish contributions to world cul-
ture — from art, literature and
music to film, sports, politics, and
science and industry.
Eisenberg also includes a legend for

each stamp that describes the person or
scene depicted, followed by a three-part
citation: the country, the stamp's Scott
catalogue number and year of issue.

Focusing on Israel

meaningful and kept up a collection."
The author adds to his collection
with each trip.

Discovering Jewish Stamps

Eisenberg, a San Francisco radiologist
Stamps covering biblical subjects include
who has written more than 20 aca-
a South African design showing the
demic texts in his medical specialty,
word "Bible" in 76 African languages, a
noticed stamps with Jewish themes
Spanish reproduction of
while working on a
a Murillo painting cap-
book detailing the
turing the matriarch
history of radiology.
Rebecca at the well and a
While searching
The
Brazilian drawing repre-
catalogues for radi-
h World
senting the burning bush.
ology-related stamps
tamps
The postage pictures
as art for chapter
issued by Israel cover a
title pages, he
vast range — from a
became captivated
traditional song of the
with issues depict-
Palmach (the Jewish
ing Jewish people
defense organization) to
and events, and that
breathtaking geography
inspired his latest
and modern military
text.
vehicles.
One especially
By far the largest sec-
important stamp for
tion in the book, the
Eisenberg shows
The book is 'z way for Jews to
Israel focus offers read-
learn more about their heritage Abraham Joshua
ers a chance to learn
Heschel, a religious
and for others to learn about
about its leaders and
leader and philoso-
Judaism," says the author.
tourist destinations, lan-
pher who joined the
guage and landmasses
civil rights marches
and religious and secular institutions.
led by Martin Luther King Jr.
While political issues are at the heart
Rabbi Heschel, who taught at the
of many Israeli stamps, so is the natu-
Jewish_ Theological Seminary in New
ral environment. Images of flowers,
York, officiated when Eisenberg mar-
butterflies, birds and fish offer artistic
ried his wife, concert violinist Zina
Schiff. Her latest CD, The Golden
varieties to appeal to many interests.
Dove, features Russian-Jewish folk
"I've collected Israeli stamps for
music.
years, and they're the only stamps I
collect," Eisenberg explains.
Eisenberg, whose two grown daugh-
ters spent many summers at
"After my first trip to Israel 30 years
ago, I thought they were beautiful and
Interlochen Music Camp in Michigan,

4800 'Wars cif -1.6h CP. ilkaol.
0,1 Postage Stamps