Joint Israel-Uruguay postal stamp marks 65 years of friendship

Jewish-Uruguayan artist creates series of biblical drawings in honor of his mother who contracted cancer.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
uruguay israel stamp postal 370 (photo credit: Philatelic Service, courtesy.)
uruguay israel stamp postal 370
(photo credit: Philatelic Service, courtesy.)
A new postage stamp to commemorate 65 years of friendship between Israel and Uruguay has been issued by the Israel Postal Company’s Philatelic Service. A ceremony marking the event on Tuesday was headed by Knesset Speaker MK Yuli Edelstein in the parliament.
The South American and Israeli postal companies chose a drawing by the artist Jose Gurevich of the Matriarch Sarah when she was told by angels that she would have a son. The Jewish-Uruguayan artist had created a series of biblical drawings in honor of his mother who contracted cancer. The image on the NIS 2 stamp designed by Rinat Gilboa testifies to the deep cultural and religious roots of the Jewish People, the Philatelic Service said.
Uruguay’s vice president, Danilo Astori, and its industry and trade minister Roerto Kramerman were among the guests at the ceremony. Uruguay announced its establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel already in 1948, not long after the Jewish state was created.
Edelstein noted that ties between the two countries are based not only on interests, which is common, but on warm and friendly relations between peoples. Uruguay was the among the first countries to recognize the young State of Israel, he added. “The issue of the stamp is a symbol of good relations, and I hope we will continue to celebrate this friendship at many more occasions.”