THIS YEAR (2010)

The 2010 Hanukkah stamp is a reissue of the 2009 menorah design. The menorah design is only the third new design since the first Hanukkah stamp was issued in 1996. The 2009 Hanukkah stamp design features a photograph of a menorah with nine lit candles.  The menorah was designed by Lisa Regan of the Garden Deva Sculpture Company and was photographed by Ira Wexler, an award-winning advertising photographer.  This year will be the15th year in which the United States Postal Service has issued a Hanukkah stamp but only the third new design.  Yes, after 8 years of the first menorah design and 5 years of the dreidel design, the third design was a new menorah.

By the way, if your local post office puts up a Christmas display insist that they put up a Hanukkah Menorah (without a Star of David on it) as well.  If the postmaster, or any supervisor tells you a menorah is not an accepted decoration tell him to look (in you presence) in the Post Office Operations Manual, Sections 124.55,e and 124.57,c.  These paragraphs (which I was instrumental in getting changed) state that a Hanukkah Menorah is an acceptable seasonal display.  If you do not get any cooperation from you local post office contact the USPS Department of Consumer Affairs:  delores.j.killette@usps.gov  and the Postmaster General: pmgceo@usps.gov.

                                                                                                                                          February 17, 2010