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Category: Religion

The Saints of Aboud

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 →

KirstyLG Palestine, Religion Leave a comment November 22, 2021January 21, 2022

Armenian Quarter

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 →

KirstyLG East Jerusalem, Religion Leave a comment November 8, 2021January 21, 2022

Backstreet Bethlehem

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 →

KirstyLG Palestine, Religion Leave a comment October 4, 2021January 21, 2022

Majdal Shams

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 →

KirstyLG Israel, Religion 2 Comments September 27, 2021January 21, 2022

The Baptism Site

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 →

KirstyLG Israel, Palestine, Religion 3 Comments June 28, 2021

Passover

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 →

KirstyLG Jerusalem Life, Religion 1 Comment March 29, 2021

Nazareth

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 →

KirstyLG Jerusalem Life, Religion Leave a comment February 1, 2021

HO HO NO

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 →

KirstyLG Jerusalem Life, Religion 1 Comment December 21, 2020

Hanukkah

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 →

KirstyLG East Jerusalem, Jerusalem Life, Religion 1 Comment December 14, 2020

Oh Little Town

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 →

KirstyLG Jerusalem Life, Religion Leave a comment December 7, 2020

High Holidays

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 →

KirstyLG East Jerusalem, Jerusalem Life, Religion 3 Comments September 14, 2020

Old City

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 →

KirstyLG East Jerusalem, Religion 5 Comments September 7, 2020

Mea She’arim

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 →

KirstyLG East Jerusalem, Religion 5 Comments August 31, 2020

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Blog Posts

  • The parting shot July 1, 2022
  • Kindness in Umm al Fahm May 27, 2022
  • RIP: A funeral attacked May 13, 2022
  • A beloved journalist May 11, 2022
  • News from Wadi Foquin May 6, 2022
  • Is Israel guilty of apartheid? February 27, 2022
  • In Herod’s Shadow February 7, 2022
  • Why I love Nablus January 27, 2022
  • They came for them January 19, 2022
  • Demolishing Sheikh Jarrah January 17, 2022
  • The 2021 Review December 31, 2021
  • 14 December 9, 2021
  • The Saints of Aboud November 22, 2021
  • Armenian Quarter November 8, 2021
  • Clock bother November 1, 2021
  • Olive Highs and Lows October 25, 2021
  • Bird superhighway October 19, 2021
  • Book review: In This Place Together October 11, 2021
  • Backstreet Bethlehem October 4, 2021
  • Majdal Shams September 27, 2021
  • Chocolate from Beit Hanina September 20, 2021
  • Going Underground September 13, 2021
  • Swimming in Al-Bidhan September 6, 2021
  • Notes on normality August 30, 2021
  • Finding Palestine Abroad August 23, 2021
  • Jaffa July 5, 2021
  • The Baptism Site June 28, 2021
  • Tobacco picking in Zabuba June 14, 2021
  • The girl from Tarshiha June 7, 2021
  • Bye bye Bibi May 31, 2021
  • Insanity is not breaking the cycle May 24, 2021
  • Playing War Fair May 19, 2021
  • Too much news & how to help May 17, 2021
  • Flash Update May 12, 2021
  • #savesheikhjarrah May 10, 2021
  • News from East Jerusalem May 3, 2021
  • Clashes in the city April 26, 2021
  • Haifa April 19, 2021
  • (un)peaceful protest April 12, 2021
  • Lifta April 5, 2021
  • Passover March 29, 2021
  • Zalatimo Sweets March 22, 2021
  • Wadi Fukin March 15, 2021
  • Inside the Kibbutz March 8, 2021
  • Hiking on Mars March 1, 2021
  • Talj February 22, 2021
  • Zababdeh February 15, 2021
  • A week is a long time in Jerusalem February 8, 2021
  • Nazareth February 1, 2021
  • Vaccine Race January 25, 2021

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