Arriving in the small West Bank town of Aboud, with zero expectations about what we might find, I was unaware that I was about to be charmed by this historically rich Christian town. It might surprise you to hear that despite being called the Holy Land on account of Jesus’ birth, life and death in … Continue reading The Saints of Aboud
Guest Blog by anonymous Jerusalem’s Old City has as many hidden places and mysteries as it does religious denominations and identities. There is perhaps no better illustration of this than the Armenian community tucked into its own quarter of the Old City – one of the oldest uninterrupted communities of Jerusalem. A few weeks ago, … Continue reading Armenian Quarter
Over the past few years, we’ve spent a fair amount of time in Bethlehem one way or another and have really enjoyed the relaxed, low-key vibe and the novelty factor that this iconic place actually exists. The low-key factor however, means that after you’ve been to the Church of the Nativity and wandered around some … Continue reading Backstreet Bethlehem
I’m often saying to anyone who will listen, that Israel and Palestine contain what feels like a whole continent of different countries, and never was this more the case than on a recent trip to the Northern town of Majdal Shams. Majdal Shams is a small town in the foothills of the Hermon mountain range, … Continue reading Majdal Shams
It was just after eight on a hot Sunday morning as we pulled out of our driveway and spotted our friend Ahmad who was delivering the daily newspapers. ‘We can’t chat as we have important business at Qasr Al Yahud, we’re baptising our friend’s baby this morning’. ‘Is it being born in the river?’ he … Continue reading The Baptism Site
The smell of smoke filled the air around Jerusalem last Friday. For those uninitiated with the custom, the annual burning of the Chametz might have come as a surprise, but this tradition marks the start of the Passover week. Passover or ‘Pesach’ in Hebrew is a week-long Jewish festival which commemorates the Jews escape from … Continue reading Passover
As we are not able to go anywhere at the moment, I have been nostalgically remembering fun trips from last year. Last January it was Nazareth…. Visiting Nazareth felt like going on a pilgrimage and I guess that is exactly what it was. Famous as the birthplace of Mary and the childhood home of Jesus … Continue reading Nazareth
I have heard 2020 described as being like a slow puncture with the air slowly going out of the tyre and I am sure many of you can relate. I nearly didn’t even bother with a blog this week, as what is there left to say as the year limps towards the finish line? Doom … Continue reading HO HO NO
Last Thursday the eight-day festival of Hanukkah kicked off. Hanukah is the festival of light that celebrates the miracle that happened when the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was re-dedicated to Judaism back in the Second Century BCE. At the time Israel was under the rule of Syrian-Greeks called the Seleucids. The story goes that a … Continue reading Hanukkah
On Saturday evening the Christmas lights were lit in Bethlehem in a small ceremony which was streamed worldwide. Despite the challenges of this year, there is still something magical about spending Christmas so close to where the action happened 2020 years ago. Bethlehem is only 10km away from Jerusalem although, as if often the case … Continue reading Oh Little Town
This Friday is the start of the Jewish High Holiday season. Over the coming three weeks there are three major festivals to be celebrated: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Unfortunately, this year they will take place during a three week national lockdown in Israel. If you are new to Jerusalem, then the range of … Continue reading High Holidays
The Old City in Jerusalem is a world class sight to behold. Within the city walls lie three of the most important religious sites in the world: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western Wall and the Al Aqsa mosque compound (‘Dome of the Rock’). There are seven gates that lead into the Old … Continue reading Old City
For some time now, I’ve wanted to write a post about the Haredi ('Orthodox') Jewish population in Jerusalem. They make up a sizable part of the population and it feels like an omission not to mention them. I’ve held back, afraid that I don’t know enough and will get the facts wrong. I also don’t … Continue reading Mea She’arim
East Jerusalem Diaries 