A Christmas Story from Bethlehem Today
Christmas Scenes Provide Families of Bethlehem with Livelihood

   Bethlehem- the small town in the Middle East where the Great Healer was born- is today an open wound, a focal point in a war between conflicting politics, cultures and religions. In the very place where angels came to proclaim God among us and humble shepherds were joined by kings in worshipping this Prince of Peace, there will be little peace this Christmas.

   Today Bethlehem is home to 30,000 people. Its primary “industry” is tourism and the myriad ancillary businesses that provide a livelihood to local families. As the violence and uncertainty increased, the tourists disappeared and with them collapsed the ability to earn a living wage for the families. 

   This is the story of two men and 40 families caught in this downward spiral and their hope this Christmas season.

   Johny Abu Aita was born into a Greek Orthodox family in Bethlehem. The family hotel which provided work for many in the family was founded by his father and grandfather. He appears to be a rather shy man when you first meet him but that disappears rather quickly. He is a well-educated man who speaks several languages.

   The 160 room family hotel was first occupied by and then destroyed by Israeli military in 2002.

   Five years ago, Johny’s brother went to the United States of America to work and send the money back to the family in Bethlehem. This is helping to rebuild the hotel, one floor at a time. Johny, his wife, their 17 year old daughter and 9 year old son, chose to remain in Palestine and reside in the area where tradition holds that shepherds were tending their flocks when they received the great news.

   The basics of life are expensive. It is even more expensive for Palestinians. In Israel, water, for example, costs 1 shekel (4.5 shekels = US$1) for 1 cubic meter while that same meter of water in Palestine the costs three times more. In the summer, one must buy an entire tank of water at a cost of 300 shekels, a price beyond the reach of most families these days.

   Johny says “You know, it is our water they are selling to us.”

   A liter of milk will cost 5 shekels and a liter of gas will require 5.4 shekels.

   The Palestinian Authority runs some schools but they are generally seen as substandard. So the family pays US$1,500 each year for each child to attend one of the religious schools.

   The ability to move about one’s country is also a challenge to the families these days. “My son said that he had not been to Jerusalem for six years. That would be almost impossible today. You can’t leave Bethlehem without permission of the Israeli Authority. So I took my son somewhere in Bethlehem instead.”

   Hassan Al Ahmad is a Muslim and has lived in Bethlehem for 10 years with his wife and two children with another child expected in March. Hassan used to earn a living as a guide, working for various agencies to provide 3-4 day to one week tours of the Holy Land. In October 2005, he had his first guide job in five years. His wife works for the Palestinian Authority.

   Unable to earn livings in their trained professions, Johny and Hassan now represent 40 families of Bethlehem who previously sold hand-carved religious items to the religious pilgrims. For the past several years, these two men have traveled the Carmelite house in Straubing, Germany, along with about 1,300 kilos of these articles. In Straubing they work with Carmelite Rainer Fielenbach to network with other organizations throughout Germany providing a market for the items.

   Most of the goods are related to the Christmas crib scenes—Mary, Joseph, the Christ Child, kings, shepherds and any number of animals in a variety of sizes. However, one can also purchase saints, religious symbols, and candle holders.

   Other items are produced by Oasis, a group of special needs individuals sponsored by Greek Orthodox Church.

   They also bring a supply of small angels made from the broken glass of the Christmas Church in Bethlehem. The windows were broken during the 2002 invasion of the town. Seven to eight people are employed making these Angels of Hope.

   In better times some 700-900 Bethlehem families normally work on producing religious items for the tourists. The wood comes from the pruning of olive trees. Dried for three years in the sun, the wood is then carved by hand although some of the artisans have used dentist drills for some of the fine details. As Bethlehem has few trees, the wood comes from all over the region.

   The breakout of war ended the procession of tourists and the incomes of these Bethlehem families. But a very small glimmer of that hope promised so long ago, cutting across culture, language, and religion seems to have surfaced—albeit assisted by some business acumen. Using contacts established outside the country and relying on their own business skills, Hassan and Johni proposed to these families that they promote the items and sell them on commission outside the country.

   “So many people said they would do it. They can work with the wood but they cannot eat it,” says Hassan.

   Four years ago Hassan and Johny called friends in Germany. One call was to the Carmelites in Straubing. They were warmly welcomed by the Carmelite community and the area people. “That first year was a great year. So many people showed up to buy things. Some took things with them and said ‘We will sell these at one of our church’ or they held their own parties to sell the items.”

   An unknown man had shown up earlier in the day to take items to sell at an event his own organization was sponsoring. “We do not know who he is but he will bring the money back. Many people will take things to sell for us and they always return with the money,” says Johny.

   Fr. Rainer has traveled to Palestine and has met most of the artists to build trust. It seems to be working. A network of monasteries and churches around Germany now provide an outlet for the crafts. They have also started selling in the United States.

William J. Harry, O. Carm.
Carmelite NGO

For more information on the situation of the Palestinians in Bethlehem, go to
The International Center of Bethlehem.