DANAE HUDSON
COURTESY OF THE ZIMMANNS
struggle to listen to these stories and know that nothing I can say or do will change anything, but that in the listen- ing I can at least show empathy. It’s maddeningly frustrat- ing at times. Still we strive to listen, listen and learn. And now we are arrived in the month where we cel- ebrate the nativity of our Lord. Christmas in the West Bank puts an ironic twist on the hymns we sing this time of year. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” now resonates in the realm of my nostalgia in a completely new way, knowing that Joseph and Mary would never have made it past the checkpoint to discover no room in the inn by virtue of their hometown of Naza- reth (it’s illegal for Jewish Israelis to travel in “Area A” of the West Bank, which includes the greater Bethlehem region).
When I first visited the Church of the Nativity in 2001, I knelt to touch the silver star on the floor that marks the traditional birthplace of Jesus and I was moved to tears. Now the site is less emotive for me, but I do find myself on my knees in other locales, reaching out in prayer for peace, moved to tears by the sacred burden of the suffer- ing of my brothers and sisters in Christ whose lives are no less valued than my own, yet tragically consumed by the
Last winter, Martin Otto and Angela Zimmann (and their children, Seth and Chelsea) left their teaching and par- ish positions in Ohio to move to Jerusalem to serve ELCA Global Mission as co-pastors and assistants to the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. In a Christmas letter home, Martin writes about Seth’s confirmation and Chelsea (shown with her mom in Caesarea Maritima) climbing a fig tree, but also a yearning for peace.
politics of occupation.
The facts on the ground belie the popular media nar- ratives in the West. We can only listen, watch and pray, yearning for a Christ child who once walked this land to bring the peace that passes all human understanding to a situation beyond all human comprehension. Come, Lord Jesus, and bless this Christmas with peace.
Follow the life and ministry of the Zimmann family on Facebook by liking their page “Zimmanns in the Holy Land.”
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