"Nazareth Village" has been recreated in Israel as an authentic 'first century' village-a place of 'living history'. It looks similar to the way Bethlehem and Nazareth looked during Biblical times, and Interpreters re-enact what Mary and Joseph did.
Nazareth Village brings a bit different kind of Christmas story; it will give you a new perspective on the birth of Jesus.
By Chris Mitchell, CBN, Dec 24, 2004
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ISRAEL \ Dec 30, 2004
1611
On 24 December 2004, the Haifa District Court rejected Adalah's request for an immediate injunction, filed on behalf of the Arab Students? Committee, ordering Haifa University to permit the placement of a Christmas tree in the University's Main Building. The request for injunction was filed urgently in the hope that the tree would be erected in time for 25 December, Christmas Day. Judge Ron Socol ruled that although there exists a "suspicion" of unacceptable discrimination, since the University approved the placement of a Channukah lamp in the Main Building, the inequality in this case does not justify the Court's intervention in the University's decision.
Special for Come and See, Dec 30, 2004
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TOP STORIES \ Dec 30, 2004 3754
Christmas in Israel has been shadowed by the gloom of the prolonged Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the United Nations has reported that the future of Bethlehem is not optimistic, Christian leaders in the region have continued to encourage the people with words of hope and faith.
Christianity Today, Dec 29, 2004
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FEATURES \ Dec 29, 2004 7267
An amazing article published in Haaretz by Shahar Ilan that describes the way Jewish Hasidim "celebrate" Christmas: Christmas Eve is one of the few occasions when Hasidim refrain from Torah study, do not conduct weddings or go to the mikveh. But they do play chess and work on their bills.
On Christmas Eve, known in Jewish circles as Nitel Night, the klipot (shells) are in total control. The klipot are parasitical evil forces that attach themselves to the forces of good. According to kabbala (Jewish mysticism), on the night on which "that man" - a Jewish euphemism for Jesus - was born, not even a trace of holiness is present and the klipot exploit every act of holiness for their own purposes.
Shahar Ilan, Haaretz, Dec 24, 2004
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ISRAEL \ Dec 29, 2004 1698
Irineos I, the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church in Israel, has withdrawn and nullified a lawsuit he filed against the Maariv newspaper to the tune of four million shekels.
Irineos filed the suit several months ago because the newspaper had accused him of expressing anti-Semitic sentiments. Earlier this month, however, Irineos withdrew his suit, and even agreed to pay 10,000 shekels ? plus Value Added Tax ? to Maariv to cover its legal expenses. Sources say that a sense of humiliation pervades the Church.
From Arutz 7, Dec 24, 2004
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ISRAEL \ Dec 29, 2004 2122
Differrent people from around the world came to Jerusalem to attend the recent dedication of a new church facility. While building a church in the U.S. is not unusual, building one in the city of Jerusalem is unique.
It's called the pavilion, a new state of the art facility, located in the heart of Jerusalem and the new home of King of Kings Assembly pastored by Wayne Hilsden.
By Chris Mitchell, CWNews, December 10, 2004
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ISRAEL \ Dec 24, 2004 1686
A total of 144,000 Christians live in Israel, of whom 117,000 are Arab and 27,000 are new immigrants, according to a report released yesterday by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) ahead of Christmas. In 2003, Christians constituted 2.1 percent of Israel's population.
Approximately 98 percent of Israel's Christians live in urban settlements, with 20 percent in Nazareth, 12 percent in Haifa and 10 percent in Jerusalem.
Approximately 11 percent of all 12th-graders in the Arab education system are Christian, and they lead the population in attainment of matriculation certificates.
By Moti Bassok, Haaretz, Dec 24, 2004
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PALESTINE \ Dec 22, 2004 5659
Long before the death of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, Open Doors founder and author Brother Andrew began to provide training and support to churches in that region. The man who gave Arafat a Bible for his daughter's first birthday says that Christ?s love is the solution to the Middle East conflict.
Janet Chismar, Senior Editor for Faith, Cross Walk, Nov 15, 2004
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PALESTINE \ Dec 22, 2004 3753
Urban Bethlehem, with a population of about 61,000, is now surrounded by nine Israeli settlements, roads restricted to Israelis, a multitude of checkpoints, 78 physical obstacles, and an Israeli barrier nearing completion on two sides of the town to protect against suicide attacks and other violence, the report said.
The Assoicated Press, Dec 22, 2004
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