A special commemorative stamp honoring 100 Years since the laying of the Technion University cornerstone located in Haifa, s being released by Israel's National Post beginning January 31st.

Sasi Shilo, chairman of Israel Postal Authority,said that the stamp "salutes the first academic educational institute established in Israel, and one of the most prominent institutes in its field worldwide".

The stamp design brings encorporates the past, present and future not only of the Technion, but also of the State of Israel,and illustrates the country's contribution as a science and technology pioneer.

The Technion's building façade, designed by on of Israel's pioneers in architecture, the Jewish-German architect Alexander Baerwald, one of the pioneers of modern Israeli architecture. is featured in the stamp.

Credit: Technion University

The stamp also illustrates the Technion's research in and advancement of nano-technology and showcases a photo, taken by Miki Koren, of a nano-parachute growing out of one of the buildings. 

The stamp tab featu

Whoever said that Christmas only comes once a year does not, obviously, live in Jerusalem. Thanks to a glut of Christian denominations confined in one small geographical space, Christmas comes three times in the Holy Land - more here than anywhere else in the world.

In every other part of the world, Christmas can be penciled in on two dates: Dec. 25, celebrated by Catholics and Pentecostals; and Jan. 7 as celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox church.

But due to a calendar glitch, the Armenian Orthodox church in the Holy Land celebrates the Nativity of Jesus on January 18 and January 19th. This also coincides with Russian and Greek Orthodox faithful who will make their annual pilgrimage to Qasr El Yahud for the Feast of Theophany, which they celebrate on that 18th. The Ethiopian Orthodox church will celebrate the Baptism of Jesus on the afternoon of the 18th while on the 19th, the Coptic Orthodox and the Syrian Orthodox Churches will celebrate Epiphany at Qasr El Yahud.

The Roman Catholic church, the Anglican Communion, and some other Western denominations, Jesus's baptism is known as the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This year that Feast is held on January 8, 2012.

Jesus Christ's public ministry began with his initial baptism, believed by many to have occurred at Qasr El Yahud and considered to be one of the five major milestones in the gospel narrative of the life of Jesus.

John the Baptist preached a 'baptism with water', believed by many to have occurred at the site known today as Qasr al-Yahud. The event is marked by a dove-like descent of the Holy Spirit, which is why a dove is released during the annual Epiphany ceremony.

In Eastern Christianity, Jesus' baptism is commemorated on 6 January, the feast of Epiphany.

The Custody of the Holy land has an annual pilgrimage organized to Qasr El Yahud, the Mt. of Temptations and the Qarantal Monastery. A mass is celebrated at Qasr El Yahud at 10 am.

The Feast of the Epiphany, which means manifestation, is observed on Jan. 6 for Catholics and on Jan. 18 for Orthodox Christians and celebrates the revelation of Jesus as son of God in the flesh.

For Catholics, the Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Magi to Jesus after his birth in Bethlehem while for Orthodox Christians, the feast remembers his baptism and revelation by God in public as the son of God.

On Jan. 6, the Catholic church in the Holy Land will observe the feast with a solemn entry into the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. This event is considered the conclusion of the Christmas season.

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.' When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: "And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, ar eby no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel."' ... After hearing the king, the