Christmas IS Palestine .... where it all began

One the most iconic images of the Holy Land is the fish and loaves mosaic in the Church of the Multiplication at Tabgha on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

One the most iconic images of the Holy Land is the fish and loaves mosaic in the Church of the Multiplication at Tabgha on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. It can serve as a reminder that Advent is the season of anticipating miracles. Miracles can come in many forms. This mosaic commemorates feeding thousands with very little and this Advent we may be praying for other miracles. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! 

 

“‘We only have five loaves and two fish’, the disciples said. ‘Bring them to me’, Jesus replied.’” Matthew 14:17-18   

St. George's College Jerusalem

Dear America- Israel and its propagandists claim it is all about self-defense, but Israel is and has been the aggressor and the rule breaker.

Postcard from If Americans Knew

My 12/13/2024 letter to elected leaders

Dear America,

There is something we can do right now TODAY to end the violence and suffering in The Holy Land- STOP ARMING ISRAEL.

Israel freely violates all borders and international law and human rights over and over and over.  

Israel and its propagandists claim it is all about self-defense,  but Israel is and has been the aggressor and the rule breaker. 

Please do not send Americans in to learn anything about security or police work in Israel, for Israel wants our money but scorns our ideals of real justice, freedom, equality, and democracy.

Do not trust Israel.  Time and time again, for decades now, Israel has cruelly persecuted and impoverished the native non-Jewish men, women and children of historic Palestine. 

Please stop funding, fueling and exasperating racist Israel's cruel crimes against humanity.

Sincerely,

Anne Selden Annab

Notes  https://anniesnewletters.blogspot.com/search/label/Notes

SAVE THE CHILDREN please suspend all arms sales to the Government of Israel

CHRISTMAS 2024: From DC to the Vatican, baby Jesus is wearing a keffiyeh (RNS) — The pro-Palestinian creche is intended to point out the disconnect between the idealized Bethlehem of most representations and the reality in present-day Gaza and the West Bank.

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib: "A horrific genocide is happening right now and it should be documented in the Congressional Record. The silence and indifference in Congress is disturbing. I submitted Amnesty’s 296-page report concluding that the Israeli government is committing genocide against Palestinians."

Amnesty International’s 2024 Human Rights Defender Award: The ongoing genocide in Gaza has exacted a devastating toll on journalists, those who risk their lives to report the truth. Among the 44,000 killed in Gaza, 138 journalists and media workers have been killed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, while carrying out their critical role of bearing witness, truth-telling and documenting atrocities...

If I Must Die a book of poetry and prose by Refaat Alareer of Palestine: "If I must die, let it bring hope, let it be a tale..."

UN General Assembly ADOPTS resolution A/ES-10/L.32 affirming its full support for the mandate of the UN Relief and Works Agency UNRWA and deploring the legislation adopted by the Israeli Knesset on 28 October 2024 VOTE: In favor: 159 Against: 9 Abstain: 11

Human Rights Day:

Bethlehem longs for the Prince of Peace this Christmas... "Before war broke out last year, there were an estimated 45,000 Christians in the Jerusalem and the West Bank, and another 1,500 in Gaza. Today, there are likely far fewer."

#AdventNotArms

This Christmas, once again, we find ourselves reflecting on the meaning of Christmas through the image of Christ in the Rubble... 87% of housing units in Gaza are damaged.

BDS commemorates 37 years since the beginning of the 1st Palestinian Intifada of 1987... TAKE #nonviolent ACTION

Pope: ‘Enough with wars and violence in the world, let there be peace in the whole world’ 2024-12-07

Mosab Abu Toha of Palestine's newest book of poems Forest of Noise

Mary consoles Eve- art by Sister Grace Remington, a Cistercian nun at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey in Iowa

Palestinian women wearing traditional dresses (thobe), each different design represent different Palestinian villages and cities.

Israel/OPT/Palestine: Law to ban UNRWA amounts to criminalization of humanitarian aid

Amnesty International investigation concludes Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza

Soha Abdul Salam Saqallah, 13 years old, was killed by Israel today along with her entire family.

Americans should focus on building peace - My letter published online in my local newspaper The Patriot News: "Our domestic and foreign policies should align to shape true justice, peace, and prosperity for all people, regardless of race or religion."

"The United Nations was not created to take mankind to heaven, but to save humanity from hell." ~Dag Hammarskjöld, second Secretary-General of the United Nations

 

"Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world..."   https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

My Letters https://anniesnewletters.blogspot.com/search/label/letters

Dear Elected Officials- Stop poisoning the land, and undermining international law.

Bethlehem longs for the Prince of Peace this Christmas... "Before war broke out last year, there were an estimated 45,000 Christians in the Jerusalem and the West Bank, and another 1,500 in Gaza. Today, there are likely far fewer."

A priest walks by the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus

• Joyce M. Davis | jdavis@pennlive.com

There will be no Christmas celebration in Bethlehem this year.

Bshara Nassar says it’s hard to celebrate the Prince of Peace when Israeli bombs are killing thousands of Palestinians every day, only a few miles away in Gaza.

Like Jesus, Nassar was born in Bethlehem, a Palestinian town a little more than 5 miles from Jerusalem. Thousands of Christian pilgrims make the trek to the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square to pay homage to the birthplace of Christ.... READ MORE  

https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2024/12/bethlehem-longs-for-the-prince-of-peace-this-christmas-social-views.html

 [AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes or watch videos) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

#AdventNotArms

This advent, we reaffirm our belief in the sanctity of all life and demand an end to the violence and killing. We call on the UK government to reject weapons as a solution, suspend all arms sales to Israel, work to protect human dignity and do all it can to push for a ceasefire. embraceme.org/advent-not-arms

Mary consoles Eve- art by Sister Grace Remington, a Cistercian nun at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey in Iowa

Mary consoles Eve- art by Sister Grace Remington, a Cistercian nun at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey in Iowa

 "I am a Cistercian sister at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey in Iowa. We live a simple life here. We are contemplative nuns, so we do not teach or work in parishes. We pray together seven times a day. Each service centers on the chanting of the psalms, the reading of scriptures, and the singing of hymns. We make candy to support ourselves, and I help with that work. I also tend our grounds, take care of the chickens, and am the community librarian. We are out in the country, so when there is a little extra time, I like to go out for long walks. Our days start early, at 3:30 a.m., and end early, with everyone in their rooms by 8:00 p.m. We have a lot of silence in our days, but we also enjoy each other a lot. We hope to live a life of praise and prayer, dedicating ourselves and this place to God, pointing to the One who holds all things together."  Mary Consoles Eve: Advent seems the perfect time to reflect on Mary and Eve, these two “mothers of all the living.” By Sr. Grace Remington and  Joy Marie Clarkson https://www.plough.com/en/topics/culture/holidays/christmas-readings/mary-consoles-eve

Up on the border of Israel (actually occupied Syria) and Syria with Lebanon, is the ancient site of the Hellenistic era town... the source of the river Jordan

Caesarea Philippi also known as Banias; the source of the river Jordan.

St.George's College Jerusalem

 Advent Calendar Day 17

Caesarea Philippi also known as Banias; the source of the river Jordan. 

 

Up on the border of Israel (actually occupied Syria) and Syria with Lebanon, is the ancient site of the Hellenistic era town. Its beauty and historical significance means this is often a highlight for pilgrims. As well as the place where Jesus said that he would build the Church upon St Peter as the rock, this may also have been the place of Jesus’s transfiguration. 

 

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’” Matt 16:13

https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/16.htm

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, ^b and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades ^c will not overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be ^d bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be ^e loosed in heaven.” 20Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Banias does not appear in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament

Banias Waterfall

 Banias or Banyas (Arabic: بانياس الحولة; Modern Hebrew: בניאס; Judeo-Aramaic, Medieval Hebrew: פמייס, etc.;^[2] Ancient Greek: Πανεάς) is a site in the Golan Heights near a natural spring, once associated with the Greek god Pan. 

Etymology

In the Bible, Golan is mentioned as a city of refuge located in Bashan: Deuteronomy 4:43, Joshua 20:8, 1 Chronicles 6:71.^[27] 19th-century authors interpreted the word Golan (Hebrew: גולן) as meaning "something surrounded, hence a district".^[28][29]

The Greek name for the region is Gaulanîtis (Γαυλανῖτις).^[30] In the Mishna the name is Gablān similar to Aramaic language names for the region: Gawlāna, Guwlana and Gublānā.^[30]

The Arabic names are Jawlān^[30] and Djolan (Arabic: جولان) and are Arabized versions of the Canaanite and Hebrew name "Golan".^[31] Arab cartographers of the Byzantine period referred to the area as jabal (جَبَل, 'mountain'), though the region is a plateau.^{[32][dubious – discuss]}

The name Golan Heights was not used before the 19th century.^[27]

This olive tree is situated on the Hebron Road just outside Bethlehem. It marks a contrast with the brutal and life-restricting Wall of Separation behind it, which fences in the Palestinian people.

Advent Calendar Day 7

 

The olive tree is a significant symbol of Palestine. The tree has been grown and olives harvested here for thousands of years. They are long-living and tough, surviving all weather conditions; they produce oil which is essential for the Palestinian cuisine. 

 

This olive tree is situated on the Hebron Road just outside Bethlehem. It marks a contrast with the brutal and life-restricting Wall of Separation behind it, which fences in the Palestinian people. Despite their oppression they survive, like the olive tree. This tree has seen it all and still it stands as a witness. 

 

“One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.' “But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’” Judges 8:8-9

  photos from

St.George's College Jerusalem

The Western World will be putting up Nativity Scenes in their homes and churches which are about Middle Eastern people seeking refuge & look awful lot like those being bombed in Gaza

 

Olive wood carving from Bethlehem- Mary, baby Jesus, and Joseph

The #Western #World will be putting up Nativity Scenes in their homes and churches which are about Middle Eastern people seeking refuge & look awful lot like those being bombed in Gaza! 

Mike Hanini Odetalla

Statement on the Celebration of Advent and Christmas in the Midst of War November 10, 2023 The Patriachs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem

 [AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine] 

 https://orthodoxtimes.com/statement-on-the-celebration-of-advent-and-christmas-in-the-midst-of-war-on-gaza/