A Palestinian Santa gives trees to Jerusalem's Christian residents, an annual gift from the Municipality.This is a photo from last December. You can see the whole happy story at http://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2009/12/santa-claus-at-jaffa-gate.html .
A distorted Jaffa Gate and folks with their new Christmas trees are reflected for James' Weekend Reflections..
Merry Christmas to all, far and near.
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Perhaps Santa is a bit warm in his flowing beard and red clothes?!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of free trees.
ReplyDeleteI need to send you some snow.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the story, Dina! I also read last year's post with interest....yes, Peace is what we can all wish for again this year.
ReplyDeleteAre the skies in Jerusalem as blue this year as last?
Your Santa is adorable! And the reflection of the trees is perfect for today!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Deputy Chief of Staff! That's stunning! If only more peace-seekers would reach out like that. And the boys in shock prove the need. We do so live in our own bubbles, don't we. What a story! With a sizable Christian community, do you see many decorated trees/homes/malls around, like the kind I've been posting?
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful idea! Lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so sunny and I'm wondering if santa would not feel too hot in that attire?
ReplyDeleteHow lovely, very touching.
ReplyDeleteBest greetings from Vienna! We even have some snow this year for Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteVery cool reflection.
ReplyDeleteShalom friends, thanks for your reflections on the subject.
ReplyDeleteSara, yes, blue skies again. No rain in sight. Temps in the 20s C around the country, a little less up in Jerusalem.
Kate, Eki, regardless of the tourist in a T shirt, it was cold that day. I had on my winter jacket. So Santa was not sweating.
Francisca, no no, no decorated homes or malls around Jerusalem.
The only place to find Christmas trees and some tinsel is in the churches or inside the Old City.
In a city of about 750,000 only some 11,000 are Christians.
That's a very nice reflection here !
ReplyDeleteWho knows, this might be the tree, that becomes old and large, providing ever growing peace !
ReplyDeleteA blessed Christmas for you and your family.
You mean he actually gives them for free?
ReplyDeleteShalom Namaki, thank you.
ReplyDeleteRobert, a peace tree is a nice idea.
Ann, yes, the Jerusalem Municipality buys about a hundred trees from the JNF/KKL forestry service and gives them gratis to Christians, after they show ID.
Santa Claus is alive and well in the hearts of children who believe all around the world. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.
ReplyDelete~Happy Christmas and Merry New Year from our family to you and yours
There ain't no such thing as a free... tree, but it is nice that somebody was willing to pay for this.
ReplyDeleteA clever contribution to Weekend Reflections, Dina.
ReplyDeleteWell spotted reflections!
ReplyDelete