Common Humanity

Back home after my trip; unpacking and beginning to relax after being around too many check points with too many young soldiers carrying guns.

And in the course of looking at the Christmas cards I brought back from Bethlehem, I noticed something I hadn't noticed before: two of the young artists called for "peace to Gaza" and "safe Gaza." These cards were written only 45 miles from the genocide carried out in Gaza -- WHICH STILL CONTINUES! Israel continues to shoot Gazans, Israel has evolved into a vast kleptocracy which steals Palestinian land, and Israel continues to torture -- yes TORTURE -- Palestinians prisoners. And all of this is done with impunity and with U.S. support and dollars.

Please expand your news sources beyond the corporate-controlled pro-Israeli media. Al Jazeera (aljazeera.com), Jewish Voice for Peace (jewishvoiceforpeace.org), and Code Pink (codepink.org) are among several good places to get information about the situation in Israel/Palestine.

And this Christmas, please pray that the U.S. comes to its senses and stops sending more bombs to Israel.

Christmas Greetings from the land where Jesus was born!

Here's a Christmas letter from the Rev. Jack Sara, President of the Bethlehem Bible College where I stayed during my visit.

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Christmas Greetings from Bethlehem

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you from Bethlehem the city that holds peace, love, and hope, and the blessed place where our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born.
As we celebrate the joy of Christmas, we are reminded that the light of Christ entered the world here in Bethlehem, bringing hope to all nations and peace to every heart. Even today, this holy city continues to proclaim the message of God’s unfailing love, calling us to live as witnesses of faith, compassion, and reconciliation.
On behalf of Bethlehem Bible College, I extend our heartfelt gratitude for your prayers, and friendship. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, may His light guide you, His peace surrounds you, and His love sustain you this Christmas.
May the joy of the Nativity fill your hearts, may the peace of Christ dwell in your homes, and may the hope of the Gospel guide you in the coming year.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed and Happy New Year.
With prayers and warm greetings from Bethlehem,
Rev. Dr. Jack Sara�, President
�Bethlehem Bible College

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And please take 3 minutes and 51 seconds to watch this very special video of Christian children in Palestine and Jordan singing Christmas songs. Several of the children in this video received cards which I brought from the U.S. and sent cards in return:

Christmas Greetings from the ELCJHL Schools Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Christmas greetings from Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. A wonderful service full of the Spirit of love and joy. After the service I was honored to have a photo with, from left, the Rev. Anton Nassar; the Rev. Mitri Rahab, world-reknowned Christian theologian; and pastor of Christmas Lutheran, the Rev. Ashraf Tannous. Please keep the Palestinian people in your prayers.