For the first time since 2005, and for the last time till 2024, the first day of Chanukah and Christmas coincide. This chronological coincidence makes life a lot easier for members of both religions to wish each other Happy Holidays. 🙂
I would like to wish all my Christian readers and friends a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May 2017 be a year of peace, happiness and prosperity for all of us.
Here is a poignant reminder of the times that we live in:
The Jerusalem Municipality certainly lived up to Israel’s reputation as it gave out free Christmas trees to anyone who wanted. Watch Santa on a camel as he gives out the trees! 😀
And here is Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wishing the Christian community a Merry Christmas:
Here is the transcript of his words:
To all of our Christian friends around the world, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I send you these greetings from Jerusalem. I’m standing in the courtyard of this magnificent International Christian Embassy. I’m so proud of our relations with our Christian brothers and sisters. I wonder for many of you if you remember the experience you had when you first visited Israel, when you saw the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or the Via Dolorosa or the Sea of Galilee or Nazareth. I’m sure it moved you deeply.
And it moves us deeply to have this bond with you because we all know that this land of Israel is the land of our common heritage. It changed the story of humanity, it changed civilization. What a magnificent heritage it is. Yet, we also know that it is under attack these days, that the forces of intolerance, of barbarism that attack all religions attack Christians with particular vehemence. We stand with you and I’m proud of the fact that in Israel, this is the one place in the Middle East that the Christian community not only survives but thrives and it’s no accident. It’s because of our commitment to religious freedom; it’s because of our embrace of our heritage; it’s because of our embrace of our common future.
So please come to Israel. Come and visit me, I’m waiting for you. It will be a great experience for you.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!
I echo the PM’s prayers and blessings and say Amen! I hope that you have a peaceful, joyful festive season and I wish Merry Christmas to all those celebrating!
Anne's Opinions 