Caring for Creation Is an Act of Faith
Earth Day has arrived, and at Bethlehem Handicrafts we believe the Earth deserves more than one day of celebration. The Bible is full of beautiful language and theology for praising God's creation. Scripture speaks again and again of God's love and concern for the world He made, and our role as guardians of the resources He has given us, including our environmental resources.
Caring for the environment is a strong reflection of our gratitude for God's love and His gift of creation.
Why Olive Wood Carving Is Sustainable
At Bethlehem Handicrafts, every step we take to care for the Earth matters. No healthy living olive tree is ever uprooted for carving. The olive wood industry of the Holy Land already faces serious challenges because of the tens of thousands of olive trees that are constantly destroyed or uprooted by Israel's Separation Wall and settlement construction.
How Long Do Olive Trees Live?
Olive trees can live for a very long time. Some of the oldest olive trees live for over a thousand years. Some of the most famous examples are found in the Garden of Gethsemane at the Church of All Nations at the base of the Mount of Olives, where Christ prayed that He would not be led into temptation immediately before His Passion (Matthew 26:36 to 46). Most olive trees do not live that long, but as trees go, they live comparatively long lives.
From Tree to Olive Wood Carving: Fuel and Material
Olive trees that have died are used as fuel or as carving material. The trunk and heftier roots of a dead olive tree often heat wood burning stoves in family kitchens and living rooms throughout the Holy Land. In a region with brief but harsh winters, stone and cement homes, and no central heating, fireplaces are a far more worthwhile investment than people from northern climates may realize.
The second purpose, of course, is carpentry and olive wood carving. Wood cannot be used indiscriminately. Only select pieces of wood, once cut and dried, that meet the qualifications of the carver are chosen. Once a piece of wood passes the test, the incredible process of transformation begins.
Hand Carved Olive Wood Masterpieces from Bethlehem
Every masterpiece begins as a piece of Holy Land olive wood, hand carved by Christian artisans in Bethlehem into a sculpture of Christ, the Virgin Mary, a Saint, or a nativity scene.
Shop our hand carved olive wood masterpieces and view each sculpture in full 360 degree detail.
Bethlehem Handicrafts is proud to put the Holy Land in your hands with original olive wood carvings, hand crafted by Christian families in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
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