Romfilatelia will introduce into circulation on Wednesday, April 17th this year, a joint issue developed together with the State of Israel, having a ground-breaking topic: Hora, Cultural Bridge between Romania and Israel. It is a traditional dance that has existed for centuries on lands mostly inhabited by Romanians.
The State of Israel proclaimed its independence in May 1948. Romania was among the first countries to recognize the State of Israel and diplomatic relations were officially established in June of the same year. Outside of the political field, Romanian-Israeli relations are based on cultural and historical ties. The national anthem of the State of Israel, Hatikva (Hope), has recognizable Romanian “influences”. The words of the anthem began to crystallize in Iași, as early as 1876-1878, when Naphtali Herz Imber began to compose the verses.
The special relationship between Romania and Israel goes beyond state reasons, being a relationship based on tradition and a deep feeling of friendship and mutual respect.
The Israeli society is a diverse one, with multicultural roots. In an encounter of languages and cultures, the influence of immigrants of Romanian origin stands out. The original Jewish community in Romania counts over 400,000 people who, practically, represents a permanent bridge between Romania and Israel. It is natural that this community brought with it a traditional manifestation of the most famous Romanian dance: the Round Dance: Hora.
Hora is not a simple dance. It is inspired by a cosmic symbolism, by the circular form of unfolding, by the arrangement of the dancers, by the rhythmic movement and by its role of solidarity that defines a world apart.
Hora confirms, perpetually, the emotional act of communication as a visible means of activity and social solidarity, and the distribution of dancers in a closed circle expresses a ritual of consolidation, a rediscovery of collectivity. Hora can also be seen as a magical symbol of protection (fortresses had circular defensive walls). It should be noted that the hora is a closed circle in which only people who are pure in spirit, animated by the same good thoughts and willing to act together, without the intention of desertion, are welcomed. “You got into the choir, you have to play!” says an old Romanian proverb.
In 1859, Hora of the Union (Hora Unirii), whose music was accompanied by the verses of the poet Vasile Alecsandri, was a determining factor in mobilizing the Wallachian and Moldavians, urged to “spin the Hora of Brotherhood / On the land of Romania” and fulfil a dream of the ages, that of living in one country.
The two postage stamps of the joint Romania-Israel issue are meant to be a symbol of the energy of dance, of human reunion, in which the absence of national costumes suggests the ethnic or confessional diversity of the dancers, and the chromaticity of the clothing suggested graphically highlights the colours belonging to the flags the two countries.
Romfilatelia thanks the partners from the Postal Administration of the State of Israel, the Embassy of the State of Israel in Bucharest and the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania for the beautiful collaboration to the development of this joint stamp issue.
