Christmas in Israel
The celebrated birth place of Jesus in Bethlehem at Christmas
The final destination for Christmas around the world at Z88.3 this year is where it all started, the country of Israel, specifically the town of Bethlehem! Bethlehem is the little town in Israel where Jesus was born. It’s the site of the Church of the Nativity.
On Christmas Eve, natives and visitors from around the world pack the church’s doorways and watch the annual procession. Police lead the parade and are followed by a solitary horseman who is carrying a cross and sitting astride a coal-black steed. They enter the church doors that lead to a silver star marking the site of the birth of Jesus.
Christian homes are marked by a cross that has been painted over the door. Each home also displays a homemade manger scene and a star is set up on a pole for all to see in the village square.
The big Christmas meal in Israel is turkey that’s spiced with pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg and stuffed with rice, meat, pine nuts and almonds.
I want to invite you to read the story of Jesus’ birth. And share this with a friend this year.
Luke 2
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[c]
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Source – BibleGateway.com
Saying Merry Christmas in Israel depends. There are two official languages, Hebrew and Arabic. In Hebrew you would translate “Merry Christmas” as “Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova”. In Arabic the translation would be “Milad Majid”.!”
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