christmas in
Bethlehem
BY REV. DR. MITRI RAHEB Christmas
are
in the real town of Bethlehem? As
200,000 people. Bethlehem is a
Christians
someone born, raised and having
Palestinian town, located in the West
throughout the world. Christians
spent almost his entire life in the
Bank. The inhabitants are Arabs,
over the centuries have drawn their
“little town,” allow me to share with
both Christian and Muslims. And
own imaginative depictions of both
you some insider insights about our
have been living here for centuries.
Bethlehem and Christmas. It is this
city and Christmas in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem’s location, with the desert
synonymous
and
Bethlehem for
magical portrayal of the “little town”
to the east and the fertile terraces to
with its shepherds, sheep, stars, and,
First, Bethlehem is no longer the
the west made it an ideal place for all
yes, gifts, that have captured the
“little town” that we imagine through
sorts of exchange, exchange of goods
imagination of children and have
Christian hymns. Rather it is a town
and ideas. The shepherds to the
given both Bethlehem and Christmas
of approximately 30,000 inhabitants,
east supplied the city with milk and
its glamour. But what about Christmas
and as a municipality it has over
meat. The Arabic name, Beit Laham,
4
Pinnacle Vistas • Winter 2021
