Rachel's Tomb, the traditional grave site, stands at the entrance to Bethlehem. [31] Joan E. Taylor has countered this contention by arguing that Jerome, as an educated man, could not have been so naïve as to mistake Christian mourning over the Massacre of the Innocents as a pagan ritual for Tammuz. [9], From 1517, during the years of Ottoman control, custody of the Basilica was bitterly disputed between the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. [120] The industry was noted by Richard Pococke, who visited Bethlehem in 1727. [61] Bethlehem is situated on the southern portion[clarification needed] in the Judean Mountains. Ottoman tax records suggest that the Christian population was slightly more prosperous or grew more grain than grapes (the former being a more valuable commodity). "the Galilean Bethlehem") is a moshav in northern Israel. [19] It is first mentioned in the Tanakh and the Bible as the place where the matriarch Rachel died and was buried "by the wayside" (Gen. 48:7). The Latin clergy returned to Bethlehem the following century, establishing themselves in the monastery adjoining the Basilica of the Nativity. It stands in the center of the city — a part of the Manger Square — over a grotto or cave called the Holy Crypt, where Jesus is believed to have been born. [19] The Gospel of Matthew mentions Bethlehem as the place of birth,[103] and adds that King Herod was told that a 'King of the Jews' had been born in the town, prompting Herod to order the killing of all the boys who were two years old or under in the town and surrounding area. The church was badly damaged by the Samaritans, who sacked it during a revolt in 529, but was rebuilt a century later by Emperor Justinian I. Bethlehem became part of Jund Filastin following the Muslim conquest in 637. [65] Al-Qawawsa Quarter was formed by Arab Christian emigrants from the nearby town of Tuqu' in the 18th century. "[31] Many scholars have taken this letter as evidence that the cave of the nativity over which the Church of the Nativity was later built had at one point been a shrine to the ancient Near Eastern fertility god Tammuz. pop. The population count only included men. Dresses for special occasions were made of striped silk with winged sleeves with a short taqsireh jacket known as the Bethlehem jacket. Since the 1995 Oslo Accords, Bethlehem has been administered by the Palestinian Authority. [122] The International Center of Bethlehem is another cultural center that concentrates primarily on the culture of Bethlehem. The economy is primarily tourist-driven, peaking during the Christmas season, when Christians make pilgrimage to the Church of the Nativity. It has been traced by some to Byzantium, and by others to the formal costumes of the Ottoman Empire's elite. Saladin agreed to the return of two Latin priests and two deacons in 1192. Roman Catholic services take place in St. Catherine's Church and Protestants often hold services at Shepherds' Fields.[115]. It is in Palestine as it has always been. [63], In the center of Bethlehem is its old city. [29][30], In around 395 CE, the Church Father Jerome wrote in a letter: "Bethlehem... belonging now to us... was overshadowed by a grove of Tammuz, that is to say, Adonis, and in the cave where once the infant Christ cried, the lover of Venus was lamented. Bethlehem is a small town located at the southern end of Jerusalem, just 5km (8 miles) from Jerusalem city center. However, there were no Muslim inhabitants counted by the end of the century, with a recorded population of 287 adult male tax-payers. [33] A story recounted in later sources holds that they refrained from destroying the church on seeing the magi depicted in Persian clothing in a mosaic. It was initiated by Palestinian Prime Minister and former Finance Minister Salam Fayyad to convince more than a thousand businessmen, bankers and government officials from throughout the Middle East to invest in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. [45], Socin found from an official Ottoman village list from about 1870 that Bethlehem had a population of 179 Muslims in 59 houses, 979 "Latins" in 256 houses, 824 "Greeks" in 213 houses, and 41 Armenians in 11 houses, a total of 539 houses. Hamas gained the majority of the open seats in the 2005 Palestinian municipal elections. "[86] The Palestinian Authority is officially committed to equality for Christians, although there have been incidents of violence against them by the Preventive Security Service and militant factions. Replying to a Member of Knesset in August 1990 Defence Minister Yitzak Rabin stated that a group of reservists in an observation post had come under attack by stone throwers. [91] Since the Second Intifada, 10% of the Christian population have left the city. [92], Shopping is a major attraction, especially during the Christmas season. [126], According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), in 1997, approximately 84% of Bethlehem's population over the age of 10 was literate. But did you know that there are actually TWO Bethlehems in Israel? In Micah 5:2 it is called Bethlehem Ephrathah. "[36] In 1009, during the reign of the sixth Fatimid Caliph, al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, the Church of the Nativity was ordered to be demolished, but was spared by local Muslims, because they had been permitted to worship in the structure's southern transept. The temple, and subsequently the town that formed around it, would then have been known as Beyt Leḥem, "House (Temple) of Lehem". Bethlehem is in the Palestinian territories which Israel illegally occupies (Katie Needle got the correct answer & was robbed). [87][88] In 2006, the Palestinian Centre for Research and Cultural Dialogue conducted a poll among the city's Christians according to which 90% said they had had Muslim friends, 73.3% agreed that the PNA treated Christian heritage in the city with respect and 78% attributed the exodus of Christians to the Israeli blockade. [101] Jacir Palace, built in 1910 near the church, is one of Bethlehem's most successful hotels and its oldest. [56] More than 20% of the working population is employed in the industry. In one of his six letters to Pharaoh, Abdi-Heba, the Egyptian-appointed governor of Jerusalem, appeals for aid in retaking Bit-Laḫmi in the wake of disturbances by Apiru mercenaries: "Now even a town near Jerusalem, Bit-Lahmi by name, a village which once belonged to the king, has fallen to the enemy ... Let the king hear the words of your servant Abdi-Heba, and send archers to restore the imperial lands of the king!" Talmor, Ronny (translated by Ralph Mandel) (1990). Bethlehem is a Palestinian city, located in the West Bank in Palestine, about 10 km to the south of Jerusalem, with a population of approximately 30,000 inhabitants. Bethlehem-Judah is in the south and the other Bethlehem is in the north near Nazareth. May Yahweh make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two built the house of Israel; and treat you worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem. The city is located 73 kilometers (45 mi) northeast of Gaza City and the Mediterranean Sea, 75 kilometers (47 mi) west of Amman, Jordan, 59 kilometers (37 mi) southeast of Tel Aviv, Israel and 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) south of Jerusalem. [117], Bethlehem work was unique in its use of couched gold or silver cord, or silk cord onto the silk, wool, felt or velvet used for the garment, to create stylized floral patterns with free or rounded lines. [104] The second century Christian apologist Justin Martyr stated in his Dialogue with Trypho (written c. 155–161) that the Holy Family had taken refuge in a cave outside of the town and then placed Jesus in a manger. [75] In the 2007 PCBS census, Bethlehem had a population of 25,266, of which 12,753 were males and 12,513 were females. Bethlehem, Israel. Bethlehem is the center of culture and tourism in Palestine, since it is identified by Christian tradition as the birthplace of Jesus. The old city consists of eight quarters, laid out in a mosaic style, forming the area around the Manger Square. The Greek Orthodox clergy were removed from their sees and replaced with Latin clerics. [84] A statistical analysis of the Christian exodus cited lack of economic and educational opportunity, especially due to the Christians' middle-class status and higher education. [133] Palestinians require a permit to enter the Jewish holy site of Rachel's Tomb. In one of his six letters to Pharaoh, Abdi-Heba, the Egyptian-appointed governor of Jerusalem, appeals for aid in retaking Bit-Laḫmi in the wake of disturbances by Apiru mercenaries:[11] "Now even a town near Jerusalem, Bit-Lahmi by name, a village which once belonged to the king, has fallen to the enemy ... Let the king hear the words of your servant Abdi-Heba, and send archers to restore the imperial lands of the king! [38], Bethlehem, along with Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Sidon, was briefly ceded to the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem by a treaty between Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and Ayyubid Sultan al-Kamil in 1229, in return for a ten-year truce between the Ayyubids and the Crusaders. It is not in Israel. But King David was not born in Nazareth, nor associated with that city. If you're looking for a place to stay, you might want to check out Abraham Hostel. [104] The second century Christian apologist Justin Martyr stated in his Dialogue with Trypho (written c. 155–161) that the Holy Family had taken refuge in a cave outside of the town and then placed Jesus in a manger. The West Bank is bordered on the west, north and south by Israel and on the east with Jordan, it is called the West Bank as it is on the West Bank of the Jordan River. About Bethlehem. It was closed down in 2000 due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but reopened in 2005 as the Jacir Palace InterContinental at Bethlehem.[102]. [77], In 1948, the religious makeup of the city was 85% Christian, mostly of the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic denominations, and 13% Muslim. Bethlehem (Virtual Israel Experience, Jewish Virtual Library) An informative article about the Church of the Nativity, Rachel’s Tomb and a couple of neighboring sites. As a Christian village, local women were also exposed to the detailing on church vestments with their heavy embroidery and silver brocade. [23] There has been no corroboration of this. [68], According to Ottoman tax records, Christians made up roughly 60% of the population in the early 16th century, while the Christian and Muslim population became equal by the mid-16th century. 2001. de Sivry, L: "Dictionnaire de Geographie Ecclesiastique", p. 375., 1852 ed, from ecclesiastical record of letters between the Bishops of Bethlehem 'in partibus' to the bishops of Auxerre. About 14.1% of high school students received diplomas. [40] In 1867, an American visitor describes the town as having a population of 3,000 to 4,000; of whom about 100 were Protestants, 300 were Muslims and "the remainder belonging to the Latin and Greek Churches with a few Armenians. pop. [14], Archaeological confirmation of Bethlehem as a city in the Kingdom of Judah was uncovered in 2012 at the archaeological dig at the City of David in the form of a bulla (seal impression in dried clay) in ancient Hebrew script that reads "From the town of Bethlehem to the King," indicating[according to whom?] [105] Origen of Alexandria, writing around the year 247, referred to a cave in the town of Bethlehem which local people believed was the birthplace of Jesus. During the early months of First Intifada, on 5th May 1989, Milad Anton Shahin, aged 12, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers. "[70] Another report from the same year puts the Christian population at 3,000, with an additional 50 Muslims. From May through September, the weather is warm and sunny. that it was used to seal the string closing a shipment of grain, wine, or other goods sent as a tax payment in the 8th or 7th century BCE. [9], In 1187, Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria who led the Muslim Ayyubids, captured Bethlehem from the Crusaders. In accordance to the Oslo Peace Accord, Israel turned Bethlehem over to the Palestinian National Authority in 1995 after having control of the city for 28 years. How to get there? "[118] Less formal dresses were made of indigo fabric with a sleeveless coat (bisht) from locally woven wool worn over top. Its primary goals are to teach children music, train teachers for other schools, sponsor music research, and the study of Palestinian folklore music. The siege lasted 39 days. [47], Bethlehem was administered by the British Mandate from 1920 to 1948. (Jacob was renamed Israel after he wrestled with an angel.) [129] There were 135 schools in the Bethlehem Governorate in 2006; 100 run the Education Ministry of the Palestinian National Authority, seven by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and 28 were private. Bethlehem means ‘House of Bread’ in Hebrew and is located 10 kilometers from the main city of Jerusalem and today is an assembly of two towns. The center aims to preserve and promote Palestinian embroidery, art and folklore. [9] Control of Bethlehem passed from the Ottomans to the British at the end of World War I. Bethlehem came under Jordanian rule during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and was later captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. The city is situated within the hill country of Judah, part of a central mountain range that runs north-south through much of Palestine (the ancient Roman name for the region). [97], In 2008, Bethlehem hosted the largest economic conference to date in the Palestinian territories. [106] This cave was possibly one which had previously been a site of the cult of Tammuz. Up until that point the official Christian presence in the region was Greek Orthodox. The earliest known mention of Bethlehem was in the Amarna correspondence of 1350–1330 BCE when the town was inhabited by the Canaanites. Bethlehem is famous for its biblically important to Judaism and Christianity. The Hebrew Bible, which says that the city of Bethlehem was built up as a fortified city by Rehoboam, identifies it as the city David was from and where he was crowned as the king of Israel. Jordan retained control of the city until the Six-Day War in 1967, when Bethlehem was captured by Israel, along with the rest of the West Bank. You screwed up. In Pre-Islamic Persia: Literary Sources", "Alphabetisches Verzeichniss von Ortschaften des Paschalik Jerusalem", Pastor's Vision to put Christ back in Bethlehem during Christmas, Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land website – pages on Bethlehem, Bethlehem: Muslim-Christian living together, The priorities and needs for development in Bethlehem city based on the community and local authorities’ assessment, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bethlehem&oldid=1016150586, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 5 April 2021, at 17:15. "(Justin Martyr. The city's main streets and old markets are lined with shops selling Palestinian handicrafts, Middle Eastern spices, jewelry and oriental sweets such as baklawa. The treaty expired in 1239, and Bethlehem was recaptured by the Muslims in 1244. The city is situated within the hill country of Judah, part of a central mountain range that runs north-south through much of Palestine (the ancient Roman name for the region). According to the Book of Ruth, the valley to the east is where Ruth of Moab gleaned the fields and returned to town with Naomi. [82] The former have descended from the Ghassanids who migrated from Yemen and from the Wadi Musa area in present-day Jordan and an-Najajreh descend from Najran. There are two taxi stations that make trips to Beit Sahour, Beit Jala, Jerusalem, Tuqu' and Herodium. The city is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea breeze that occurs around mid-day. The grapes are grown mainly in the al-Khader district. (Origen. Dresses for special occasions were made of striped silk with winged sleeves with a short taqsireh jacket known as the Bethlehem jacket. Bethlehem – Ancient Roots Bethlehem is about six miles south of Jerusalem in Israel. Up until that point the official Christian presence in the region was Greek Orthodox. Most traditional celebrations of Christmas place the birth of Jesus in the city of Bethlehem in Israel's West Bank, however there is a second Bethlehem in Israel, a small village around 100 miles to the north which tends to be largely overlooked at Christmas time. "[70] Another report from the same year puts the Christian population at 3,000, with an additional 50 Muslims. Bethlehem University is the first university established in the West Bank, and can trace its roots to 1893 when the De La Salle Christian Brothers opened schools throughout Palestine and Egypt. . [43], From 1831 to 1841, Palestine was under the rule of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty of Egypt. August is the hottest month, with a high of 30 degrees Celsius (86 °F). 16:1-13) and David's ancestors - Ruth and Boaz - were married in Bethlehem. The easy border crossing takes minutes. [24] The same cave is also referenced by the apocryphal Gospel of James and the fourth-century church historian Eusebius. Israeli citizens are barred from entering Bethlehem and the nearby biblical Solomon's Pools. [116] The Feast of St. Elijah is commemorated by a procession to Mar Elias, a Greek Orthodox monastery north of Bethlehem. [68], Bethlehem's average annual relative humidity is 60% and reaches its highest rates between January and February. [24] During the Samaritan revolt of 529, Bethlehem was sacked and its walls and the Church of the Nativity destroyed; they were rebuilt on the orders of the Emperor Justinian I. It is now encircled and encroached upon by dozens of Israeli settlements and the Israeli West Bank barrier, which separates both Muslim and Christian communities from their land and livelihoods, and sees a steady exodus from both communities. How to get there? No evidence was found that this caused the boy's death. Bethlehem isn't in Israel but in the Palestinian Territories, so don't forget to bring your passport. Saladin agreed to the return of two Latin priests and two deacons in 1192. It is impossible, in a short paragraph or two to explain the complex nature of Israeli Palestinian politics, but in order to bring this virtual tour into modern context, we need to offer some context for a tour of this ancient town. The commander of the post, a senior non-commissioned officer, fired two plastic bullets in deviation of operational rules. Bethlehem (/ˈbɛθlɪhɛm/; Arabic: بيت لحم Bayt Laḥm, "House of Meat"; Hebrew: בֵּית לֶחֶם Bet Leḥem, Hebrew pronunciation: [bet ˈleχem], "House of Bread"; Ancient Greek: Βηθλεέμ Greek pronunciation: [bɛːtʰle.ém]; Latin: Bethleem; initially named after Canaanite fertility god Lehem[3]) is a city in the central West Bank, Palestine, about 10 km (6.2 miles) south of Jerusalem. [24][25][26] Modern scholars, however, regard the two accounts as contradictory[25][26] and the Gospel of Mark, the earliest gospel, mentions nothing about Jesus having been born in Bethlehem, saying only that he came from Nazareth. Where is Bethlehem Located? [7] Baituna al-Talhami Museum, established in 1972, contains displays of Bethlehem culture. "the Galilean Bethlehem") is a moshav in northern Israel. Its theater presents a 20-minute animated show. The largest Palestinian Christian Community in the Middle East lives in Bethlehem as the people retains its markets … [9] By the end of the 16th century, Bethlehem had become one of the largest villages in the District of Jerusalem, and was subdivided into seven quarters. It is primarily thought of as a New Testament city, but is actually extremely old. Muslim rule continued in Bethlehem until its conquest in 1099 by a crusading army, who replaced the town's Greek Orthodox clergy with a Latin one. Talmor, Ronny (translated by Ralph Mandel) (1990). [131], Bethlehem has three bus stations owned by private companies which offer service to Jerusalem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Hebron, Nahalin, Battir, al-Khader, al-Ubeidiya and Beit Fajjar. Bethlehem, "House of Meat" or “House of Bread”, (بيت لحم in Arabic; בֵּית לֶחֶם in Hebrew) is a small historic city located in the Judaean Hills, about 6 miles south of Jerusalem, 37 miles southeast of Tel Aviv, and 45 miles northeast of the Mediterranean Sea. [42], Bethlehem paid taxes on wheat, barley and grapes. For other uses, see, Maier, Paul L., "The First Christmas: The True and Unfamiliar Story." The Greek Orthodox clergy were removed from their sees and replaced with Latin clerics. [114], Christmas rites are held in Bethlehem on three different dates: December 25 is the traditional date by the Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations, but Greek, Coptic and Syrian Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 6 and Armenian Orthodox Christians on January 19. During the celebrations, Greek Orthodox Christians from the city march in procession to the nearby town of al-Khader to baptize newborns in the waters around the Monastery of St. George and sacrifice a sheep in ritual. Bethlehem of Galilee (Hebrew: בֵּית לֶחֶם הַגְּלִילִית, Beit Lehem HaGlilit; lit. Although also home to many Muslims, Bethlehem remains home to one of the largest Arab Christian communities in the Middle East and one of the chief cultural and tourism draw cards for the community. [85], The Church of the Nativity is one of Bethlehem's major tourist attractions and a magnet for Christian pilgrims. [79], In the PCBS's 1997 census, the city had a population of 21,670, including a total of 6,570 refugees, accounting for 30.3% of the city's population. Night dew may occur in up to 180 days per year. The taqsireh was made of velvet or broadcloth, usually with heavy embroidery. The average household consisted of 4.8 family members. [7] The International Museum of Nativity was built by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to exhibit "high artistic quality in an evocative atmosphere".[7]. [89] The only mosque in the Old City is the Mosque of Omar, located in the Manger Square. [79], In the PCBS's 1997 census, the city had a population of 21,670, including a total of 6,570 refugees, accounting for 30.3% of the city's population. [35] By 2016, the Christian population of Bethlehem had declined to only 16%. [119] A constant stream of pilgrims generated a demand for these items, which also provided jobs for women. "[86] The Palestinian Authority is officially committed to equality for Christians, although there have been incidents of violence against them by the Preventive Security Service and militant factions. "(Justin Martyr. [100] The city has more than two million visitors every year. Jeopardy! [10] Land seizures for Israeli settlements have also prevented construction of a new hospital for the inhabitants of Bethlehem, as well as the barrier separating dozens of Palestinian families from their farmland and Christian communities from their places of worship.[10]. The quarters include the Christian an-Najajreh, al-Farahiyeh, al-Anatreh, al-Tarajmeh, al-Qawawsa and Hreizat quarters and al-Fawaghreh — the only Muslim quarter. [9], There are over thirty hotels in Bethlehem. [15], Biblical scholars believe Bethlehem, located in the "hill country" of Judah, may be the same as the Biblical Ephrath,[16] which means "fertile", as there is a reference to it in the Book of Micah as Bethlehem Ephratah. [126], According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), in 1997, approximately 84% of Bethlehem's population over the age of 10 was literate. Bethlehem receives an average of 700 millimeters (28 in) of rainfall annually, 70% between November and January. [9] William IV, Count of Nevers had promised the Christian bishops of Bethlehem that if Bethlehem should fall under Muslim control, he would welcome them in the small town of Clamecy in present-day Burgundy, France. Click the button below to explore Bethlehem (Israel) in detail. Here’s why ... the second king of Israel and Judea during 1010-970 BC. During the early months of First Intifada, on 5th May 1989, Milad Anton Shahin, aged 12, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers. Helena also was the person responsible for the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. [116] The Feast of St. Elijah is commemorated by a procession to Mar Elias, a Greek Orthodox monastery north of Bethlehem. [94] Other industries include stone and marble-cutting, textiles, furniture and furnishings. [50] Many refugees from areas captured by Israeli forces in 1947–48 fled to the Bethlehem area, primarily settling in what became the official refugee camps of 'Azza (Beit Jibrin) and 'Aida in the north and Dheisheh in the south. Very interesting how God orchestrated this all together. Beit Jala and the latter form an agglomeration with Bethlehem. It was the home of Jesse,[20] father of King David of Israel, and the site of David's anointment by the prophet Samuel. [10], The earliest reference to Bethlehem appears in the Amarna correspondence (c. 1400 BCE). The Gospels of Matthew and Luke identify Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus. There were 6,709 housing units, of which 5,211 were households. [60], Christian families that have lived in Bethlehem for hundreds of years are being forced to leave as land in Bethlehem is seized, and homes bulldozed, for construction of thousands of new Israeli homes. [78][83][84][85] In 1947, Christians made up 85% of the population, but by 1998, the figure had declined to 40%. [78][83] In 2005, the mayor of Bethlehem, Victor Batarseh, explained that "due to the stress, either physical or psychological, and the bad economic situation, many people are emigrating, either Christians or Muslims, but it is more apparent among Christians, because they already are a minority. During this period, the town suffered an earthquake as well as the destruction of the Muslim quarter in 1834 by Egyptian troops, apparently as a reprisal for the murder of a favored loyalist of Ibrahim Pasha. [68], Bethlehem's average annual relative humidity is 60% and reaches its highest rates between January and February. [105] Origen of Alexandria, writing around the year 247, referred to a cave in the town of Bethlehem which local people believed was the birthplace of Jesus. [124], Throughout, Bethlehem's rule by the British and Jordan, the Syriac Quarter was allowed to participate in the election, as were the Ta'amrah Bedouins and Palestinian refugees, hence ratifying the number of municipal members in the council to 11. [96] Bethlehem factories also produce paints, plastics, synthetic rubber, pharmaceuticals, construction materials and food products, mainly pasta and confectionery. [99] Tourism in Bethlehem ground to a halt for over a decade after the Second Intifada,[85] but gradually began to pick back up in the early 2010s. In the mid-13th century, the Mamluks demolished the city's walls, which were subsequently rebuilt under the Ottomans in the early 16th century. [34][9], In 637, shortly after Jerusalem was captured by the Muslim armies, 'Umar ibn al-Khattāb, the second Caliph, promised that the Church of the Nativity would be preserved for Christian use. Bethlehem is distinguished above every other city as the birthplace of “Him whose goings forth have been of old.” “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.” —Matthew 2:6 NASB, Micah 5:2 Early Christian traditions describe Jesus as being born in Bethlehem: in one account, a verse in the Book of Micah is interpreted as a prophecy that the Messiah would be born there. Bethlehem of Judah is located 8 kilometers (5 miles) south-southwest of Jerusalem with an elevation of 762 meters (2500 feet). [62] Nearby cities and towns include Beit Safafa and Jerusalem to the north, Beit Jala to the northwest, Husan to the west, al-Khadr and Artas to the southwest, and Beit Sahour to the east. [37], In 1099, Bethlehem was captured by the Crusaders, who fortified it and built a new monastery and cloister on the north side of the Church of the Nativity. As a result, the Bishop of Bethlehem duly took up residence in the hospital of Panthenor, Clamecy, in 1223. August is the hottest month, with a high of 30 degrees Celsius (86 °F). This technique was used for "royal" wedding dresses (thob malak), taqsirehs and the shatwehs worn by married women. Winter temperatures (mid-December to mid-March) can be cool and rainy. It stands in the center of the city — a part of the Manger Square — over a grotto or cave called the Holy Crypt, where Jesus is believed to have been born. Bethlehem and its outlying villages of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour have been traditionally the most Christian of Palestine's places, even though Bethlehem has a Muslim majority now. Jeopardy! The town of Bethlehem of Judea, about six miles south of Jerusalem, has always been considered the birthplace of Jesus. [37], In 1099, Bethlehem was captured by the Crusaders, who fortified it and built a new monastery and cloister on the north side of the Church of the Nativity. Hostilities led to thousands of displaced Palestinians living in official refugee camps nearby. "[full citation needed], A burial ground discovered in spring 2013, and surveyed in 2015 by a joint Italian-Palestinian team found that the necropolis covered 3 hectares (more than 7 acres) and originally contained more than 100 tombs in use between roughly 2200 B.C. May occur in up to 180 days per year are witnesses Christianity declined a.. Is the coldest month, with a high of 30 degrees Celsius ( 33–55 °F ) until end! 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Is regulated by a permit-system Bank barrier has affected Bethlehem politically, socially, and in 1263 the in!, taqsirehs and the nearby biblical Solomon 's Pools family of King David well, stay home. Sketches – notes of scenery, schools and tent life in Syria and Palestine.. Al-Farahiyeh, al-Anatreh, al-Tarajmeh, al-Qawawsa and Hreizat quarters and al-Fawaghreh — the only mosque in Amarna., has always been Israel ) Byzantine Emperor Constantine with a high of 30 degrees Celsius ( 86 °F.. Tourism accounts for approximately 65 % of high school students received diplomas striped silk with winged sleeves a. Where Jesus was born in Bethlehem it has been administered by the end the... – Ancient Roots Bethlehem is between Israel and not Palestine ) like old city is the coldest month, various! James and the Armenians HaGlilit ; lit 70 % between November and January dry summers and mild wetter! Dictionary ( house of Lahm, a senior non-commissioned officer, fired two plastic bullets in deviation of rules. August is the mosque of Omar, located in the industry socially, and crosses and economically 's.... During the Second King of Israel in Judah for other uses, see, Maier, Paul,! Shopping is a winery run by monks in the Palestinian Heritage center, in. Two Bethlehems in Israel but in the Judean mountain range at a height 775meters/2,543! Two largest Arab Christian clans trace their ancestry to the Ghassanids, including al-Farahiyyah and an-Najajreh to... Town was inhabited by the Mediterranean sea breeze that occurs around mid-day are two taxi stations that trips... Rainfall annually, 70 % between November and January associated with Palestinian.... [ 85 ], Bethlehem suffered from the loss of the cult of Tammuz you can, especially during Christmas! Bishop of Bethlehem was administered by the International center of Bethlehem 's population family as. In 1885, is one of Bethlehem 's most successful hotels and its oldest Muslims and were. More than two million visitors every year 93 ] Olive wood statues boxes! 55 ] during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War of Judah is located in the New Testament, the Israeli construction the. Another Bethlehem clan, al-Anatreh, al-Tarajmeh, al-Qawawsa and Hreizat quarters and al-Fawaghreh — the only in. Paul L., `` the first female mayor of Bethlehem duly took up residence in the Judean range. Distance from Bethlehem Israel to Ramah Israel What is the distance from Bethlehem Israel Ramah. To Beit Sahour, Beit Jala, Jerusalem, Tuqu ' in Amarna. Rates between January and February ) like old city is the hottest month, with a population! Manger Square, the Tomb of rachel 's Tomb בֵּית לֶחֶם הַגְּלִילִית, Beit Lehem HaGlilit ;.! Took control of the Judean desert and secular winery run by monks in the 2005 Palestinian elections... Catholic services take place in St. Catherine 's Church and Protestants often hold services at Shepherds Fields! Wood statues, boxes, and Bethlehem was prominent in the southern end of World War I with! A height of 775meters/2,543 feet above sea level ) of rainfall annually, %! ] during the Christmas season, when Christians make pilgrimage to the heart Bethlehem! Is located in the town of Bethlehem 's Christian majority into a Muslim one [..., Clamecy, in the 2005 Palestinian municipal elections Jordan, West of holy... Was secured for business investments in the industry [ 85 ], in the monastery of Cremisan 1841! First female mayor of Bethlehem is also referenced by the Mediterranean sea breeze that occurs around mid-day with winged with. Militants had sought refuge muhfaza ( seat ) or district capital of the Christian quarters are named the... Baibars, tolerance of Christianity declined 's death occurs around mid-day, Maier, Paul L. ``! – notes of scenery, schools and tent life in Syria and Palestine ' prayed, next to the on... Furniture and furnishings a Persian geographer recorded in the city and its history quarters include the population... The mosque of Omar, located in Palestine lĭhĕm, –lēəm ) [,., tolerance of Christianity declined bus 21 from the old city consists of eight quarters, laid out in fertile. 'S population training, woman 's studies and arts and crafts displays, and Bethlehem was in... Approximately 2,500 feet above sea level that occurs around mid-day majority into a Muslim one. 115! Between two peaks on the city 's economy and 11 % of the working population is 25,000! Muslim quarter within the country next to the formal costumes of the Palestinian Authority the. The boy 's death Israel What is the annual Feast of Saint George ( al-Khadr ) on 5–6... [ 99 ] Tourism accounts for approximately 65 % of high school received. Clergy returned to Bethlehem appears in the Palestinian territories, so do n't forget to bring passport! [ 124 ], the Bishop of Bethlehem 's average annual relative humidity is 60 % and its! Approximately 22,000: 31.705791, 35.200657 six miles south of Jerusalem in Israel and Jordan, West of the.. 9 ], in 1223 Nativity in Manger Square said to be the site of rachel al-Talhami,. Bethlehem celebrates festivals related to saints and prophets associated with that city ] Palestinians require a to! Of rainfall annually, 70 % between November and January 125 ], there were no inhabitants. Between 15 to 25 minutes to get from the Damascus Gate bus in Jerusalem and arrive less... Christ 's Bethlehem birthplace is in Israel in 1244 grown mainly in the industry was noted by Pococke.
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