Bethlehem church brings people to tears after redesigning Christmas nativity scene to reflect Israel-Hamas war
Israel Defense Forces continue to conduct operations in the West Bank, known by Israelis by its biblical name Judea and Samaria
By Lawrence Richard Fox News
Published December 8, 2023 9:15am EST
A church in Bethlehem, the biblical birthplace of Jesus, is receiving attention for its decision to redesign its Christmas nativity scene to reflect the impact of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Just weeks before Christmas, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, located in the West Bank, unveiled a new display of the nativity scene that shows baby Jesus lying in a manger amid rubble. The imagery symbolizes the destroyed Palestinian communities in Gaza and the ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas terror group, a church official said.
"Church families met last week and built it together. It was a moving experience for our families. During the service on Sunday, some people were in tears," Reverend Doctor Munther Isaac, the church's pastor, told The New Arab. "We are pleased our message has reached the world. This is what Christmas looks like in Palestine this year, the origin of Christmas."
Bethlehem is historically recognized as the birthplace of Jesus and his birth is celebrated by Christians and others on Christmas, Dec. 25. The nativity scene often depicts Jesus as a baby, alongside his mother Mary, often regarded by Catholics as a saint; as well as his father Joseph, wise men and their respective gifts, shepherds, angels and various animals, including donkeys and sheep.
A picture shows an installation of a scene of the nativity of Christ with a figure "symbolizing baby Jesus lying in his manger amid rubble", inside the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank on Dec. 6, 2023, a few weeks before Christmas amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
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