It may be a Jewish state but Christmas in Jerusalem is an extraordinary thing. Thousands of pilgrims around the Old City flooding churches of every denomination and language that are hundreds of years old, sometimes thousands. It is one of the great events of the Israeli year, and life without it feels empty. I'd imagine a lot of it is still going on in Jerusalem even if at nothing like that scale, but Christmas without pilgrims would be unthinkable in Bethlehem and Nazareth, and one has to assume there is no such pilgrimage there presently. Just emptiness and sadness in places where thousands experience the most profound joy every year.
War depopulates, not just life but all the things which make life worth living.
I wish every Notzri out there a Merry Christmas. May you get your time in Jerusalem back, and may we all figure out a way to share this place while letting all our best traditions thrive. Life itself depends on it.
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