Christmas Vigil Mass on Dec 24th night was as usual special when celebrated in Shepherds' Field. The sky was clear and the stars were shining; and the air was cold and crispy. There were many groups celebrating Mass in the various altars around the sanctuary. But the crowds trickled toward midnight when everyone went uphill to Bethlehem to join the celebrations.
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Candy packs from Israeli
soldiers at Bethlehem
checkpoint |
Bethlehem therefore was packed to the brim with locals and tourists. The road into Bethlehem was jammed and it took over an hour to get from the Israeli checkpoint to Shepherds' Field. Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint were distributing packs of candy for tourists and pilgrims as part of their Christmas policy to show welcome despite the Wall and other security measures. Got home just past midnight but was ravaged by severe asthma so I couldn't sleep a wink. Then it was Mass at 6.30am and then chores to be done. Am extremely exhausted because each time when I try to rest, a call comes through and it's more work.
Christmas is not all fun for some people: a 3rd arab youth was attacked by Jewish teens in the City centre in 2 months. No culprits were caught ... which is disturbingly strange because if a Jew were attacked, suspects would have been rounded up within 2 hours. So much for Christmas hope and cheer.
Then the rabbis issued a decree to cancel the certification of all restaurants and eating places that put up a Christmas tree because "Christmas trees are idolatry". Suddenly all the christmas decorations around the City disappeared in a few hours. So how come a giant Hanukiot in Zion Square is not idolatry?
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