Janice Stutts's trip to the Holy Land

My family and I have recently returned from a terrific visit to Israel which included a fascinating day spent in Bethlehem. I had been fortunate to become acquainted with the Bannoura family, half of whom live in the US, and half live in Bethlehem. When Mike B. heard I was traveling to Israel (my husband had business in Tel Aviv) and that we wished to visit Bethlehem, he put us in touch with a knowledgeable and very pleasant tour guide, Elias. Elias arranged for our transportation from Jerusalem to the town of Bethlehem, met us there and spent the day with us, touring many ancient historical sites as well as important current-day locations.

A visit to the Holy Land would simply be incomplete without a day or two spent among the friendly and welcoming people of Bethlehem. I believe myself to be a fairly well informed “citizen of the world” but I was unprepared to hear about and to see first hand, the conditions of daily life as it is lived in the occupied territory of the West Bank. I gained a great deal of respect for the communities of Christians and Muslims living under Israeli occupation. The current situation of closed borders makes it difficult for the people of Bethlehem to make a living wage. Many family-owned and operated work shops, which are producing beautiful, olive wood figures , crosses and much more of the handcrafted olive wood are the life line to housing, food and education.

Since returning home, one of the questions I’m frequently ask is, “Were you concerned
about your safety?” The answer is, “Not for one minute the entire trip!” People everywhere were so friendly; the food was fresh, fresh, fresh and delicious! We enjoyed the tap water in every town and city, none of us had any health issues or “problems” with food or the water. Bottom line…Go! You’ll love it! It will be an experience you’ll never forget, because it is a place unlike any you’ve ever visited before. Be sure to contact the Bannoura family for excellent tips and good advice as you plan your trip.

Janice Stutts

janstutts@gmail.com