Israel promotes volunteerism with new stamp

Last month, The Israel Philatelic Service issued nine new stamps according to IsraelNationalNews.com.

The new stamps honor topics as diverse as Volunteer Organizations in Israel, the Israel Prison Service, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Israel, and Dance.

There are nearly 15,000 volunteer organizations in Israel. The face value of the new stamp (which is shown above) is 1.50 shekels - the price of sending a standard domestic letter. The tab reads, "For a better world."

Another philatelic issuance honors the Israel Prison Service.

Employing 7,000 workers and responsible for over 24,000 security and criminal prisoners, the IPS is a component of Israel's security forces. It began as a department of the Israel Police in May 1948, but became an independent body in January 1949.

The UNESCO series honors the five Israeli sites or locations that appear on the United Nations' list of world heritage places recommended for protection.

Four stamps worth 2.20 shekels each were also issued in June on various dance styles: ballet, ethnic dance, Israeli folk dance, and modern dance.

For pictures and descriptions of these and other Israeli stamps, click here.