The Israeli Philatelic Service (the authority that issues the stamps of Israel) had a very friendly exhibition last week called "Jerusalem 2001". although the name wasn't an excellence of creativity they came up with an inspiring gimmick; everyone could come during the 4 days of the exhibition, have his/her picture taken, and the Philatelic Service issues a set of 16 official Israeli stamps with his/her portrait on them.
As a manufacturer of collectors' items, a resident of Jerusalem in the year 2001, a photographer, an artist and a curious individual I couldn't resist the invitation to issue an official Israeli stamp with my individual message on it.
taking into consideration that some of my messages would not be highly appreciated by the official state of Israel I invited some friends to join me to this action and to document it.
Thursday noon we met there, Assaf, Yoav, Adania and me with various accessories and a video camera. After standing in a surprisingly long queue of enthusiastic collectors and fans of the Philatelic Service (and of their own faces), it was Yoav the first one to express himself. The guard, who was already alert after seeing us with cameras and bags in our hands, almost choked when Yoav tried to put the flag of Israel over his face. After a short commotion Yoav backed and reached an agreement to be immortalized on a stamp having the flag of Israel behind him, like in an official government office. Assaf could also get the same kind of flexibility from the manager who was urgently called by the shocked photographing clerk. By the time it was Adania's turn the whole chain of command of the Philatelic Service was present in the small cubical where the photos were taken.
Needless to say why the security guards were called to kick us out when Adania claimed her right to be photographed with her red Kaffia over her face like the Palestinian demonstrators in our long known Intifadas.
I can't be naive and say we weren't prepared to experience difficulties but what was even more troubling than the resistance of the frightened chiefs of the Philatelic Service was the clear stand of some of the Patriotic public standing politely but not so quietly in their queue.
After some 15 minutes of arguing on the principal, artistic and personal level I was authorized to return to the cubical and have my photo taken, provided I don't wear anything extra.
It was a short moment of glory before being kicked out again when I requested to raise my palm next to my face in the photo. I'm sure the kick would have been stronger if they knew what was written on my palm.

To be fair with the Philatelic Service I would like to point out two facts:
One - In the set of rules issued for this special exhibition, the Philatelic (I love this name) Service reserves the right to refuse this service to any individual without giving an explanation.
Two - some of the people in charge complimented our physical appearance and wondered why we want to cover our faces and miss this one time opportunity to capture our natural youth on a stamp.