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, an old city located in West Bank, it is not known exactly when it was founded. but the first known mentioned of the name was 1350–1330 BCE. The name is a combination of the two Hebrew words bayit “house” and leḥem “bread”. So, the literal meaning of the name is “House of bread.” And is not just a normal or like other cities, its important Jerusalem. Also, it is identified as the birthplace of Jesus. for that many of Christians come every year to visit Church of the Nativity.
History
Arabic City has been inhabited since 1872 and has a rich history. Around 2000 BC, the Canaanites founded and inhabited it. They gave it the name Beit Eilo Lahama, which means “home of the Deity Lahama,” who they believed to be the god of food and nourishment. In conjunction with this name, the city’s name in Arabic also denotes the meaning of food (house of meat). According to legend, the city was given its name after the temple of this deity because of the abundance of rich and grazing plains, where cattle and sheep used to breed and graze.
Mary and Joseph would hardly recognize the “small town if they arrived there today. And they most definitely wouldn’t have trouble finding a place to stay in this booming metropolis, which is now undoubtedly the Palestinians’ crowning achievement.
Given that City is the birthplace of Jesus Christ, there are naturally a significant number of tourists there (the exact spot of his birth can even be visited). But this stunning city cannot be ignored since it is brimming with biblical heritage and wonder. In sharp contrast to the large, unattractive man-made wall with towers that bounds , city is now a primarily Muslim town where people of many religions coexist in some measure of harmony.
What can you visit ?
THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY
The most significant landmark in city is the Church of the Nativity, which marks the location of the nativity. Mary gave birth to Jesus in city a little more than 2,000 years ago. Located 10 kilometers south of Jerusalem in the Palestinian Authority’s West Bank, It is a vibrant city today. The Nativity Church is the city’s main draw. The Church of the Nativity in City was included on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 2012.
RACHEL’S TOMB
In a city south of Jerusalem, you may find Rachel’s Tomb. For many years, it stood by a lonesome crossroads, and Rachel’s descendants would come here to express their love to her—the mother who lives in a solitary cemetery by a road to be there for her suffering children. As she prays for them and invokes God’s promise that they would return to the Promised Land, Rachel is a constant comfort to her kids.
THE MILK GROTTO
HERODIUM
The West Bank’s Harodium is a truncated cone-shaped hill that is located 5 miles (3.1 kilometers) southeast of city and 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of Jerusalem. It is situated south of a military facility and between the Palestinian communities of Za’atara and Jannatah. It is also close to the Israeli community of Sdeh Bar.
KING DAVID’S WELLS
A few streets from the Church of the Nativity, near the Catholic Action Center, are King David’s Wells. In eastern city, three enormous cisterns that are still in use today were discovered. King David’s troops allegedly broke past the Philistine defenses here to bring him water, but despite risking their lives to do so, he declined to drink it. Some others think the King is really interred at the nearby Church of St. David rather than in the tomb in Jerusalem.
MONASTERY OF MAR SABA
A 20-minute drive from the city, the stunning Mar Saba monastery clings to the hills of the Kidron Valley. It’s breathtaking to see the Greek Orthodox Monastery in the middle of the desert. Mar Saba, which is carved out of the rock, displays a manner of life that has not altered since Constantine’s time. Its namesake Saint Saba’s body is on display in the main church, and his tomb is outside in the courtyard.
What To Do
Everybody connects city to the nativity narrative, which includes Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the birth of Jesus Christ. There are regular reminders that this is the city that the New Testament describes thanks to street names like Manger Street and Star Street. Any excursion to the city, which is unlike the picturesque town shown on Christmas cards, must thus include a stop at the holy scene, which is currently located beneath the altar in the Church of the Nativity.
Mary reportedly gave birth to Jesus in a cave, not a stable, and the precise location is marked by a star and decorated with candles. Although city is an odd and unsettling destination to visit, it has much more to offer than just holy places.
Where To Eat
Given is popularity as a tourist destination, there are plenty of food alternatives there. Restaurants may be found all throughout Manger Square and its neighboring streets, as well as more traditional shawarma joints up in the Old City.
The market also features a section dedicated to fresh produce, which you should visit even if you have no intention of making a purchase just to take in the vibrant, disorganized piles of fruit and vegetables.
Where To Stay
Weather and Climate
The height affects its moderate climate, which has pleasant, sunny summers and mild, dry winters (with chilly nights) (during which thunderstorms often break out).
Summers are long, lasting from May to September, with July and August being the hottest months. Temperatures range between 23-36° C (75-96° F) and you can expect 50-90% humidity. The good news is that there is air-conditioning almost everywhere you go, from buses and taxis to malls and hotels. However, it is really important to prepare for these temperatures, especially when spending time outdoors. Buy good sun protection, wear long but cool clothes and make sure to drink plenty of water.
Autumn is, for the most part, a continuation of the summer weather. It does get a little cooler and the humidity drops, so it is more comfortable. The season starts in September and at the end of November it starts getting cooler and we might see a little rain, but not too much. September is usually as warm as summer, but the temperatures in autumn are similar to those of spring and range between 16-24° C (60-75° F).
Depending where you come from you might not even consider the city weather “real winter weather”. This is the wettest time of the year and temperatures range between 6-15° C (42-60° F). Israeli schools have a winter break for Channukah during December, this usually doesn’t affect accommodation but activities tend to get crowded. Also, tourists from nearby countries use their winter breaks to enjoy the warmer temperatures in this city.
Spring is between March and May and this is the ideal time to visit this city. You usually won’t see much rain and the temperatures are mild, ranging between 16-24° C (60-75° F), although the nights might still be chilly. Passover falls in April so if you are planning on visiting during this time keep in mind that prices of flights and accommodation will rise and tend to get booked early.
The star of Bethlehem was a star of hope that led the wise men to the fulfillment of their expectations, the success of their expedition. Nothing in this world is more fundamental for success in life than hope, and this star pointed to our only source for true hope: Jesus Christ.
There are many different factors that effect each route and so the bad news is – no one rule fits all. But, the good news is that Hopper, a Boston-based start up that analyses flight data and predicts the best time to book a specific flight is doing a great job (they are right 95% of the time), so we suggest checking out their predictions for your flight.
the high season is from June to August, so those will obviously be the most expensive months to fly to The City. Now, the cheapest month may fluctuate, and the reason for that is that Jewish holidays do not always fall in the same month, for example, one year Passover may fall in March and the next it will be in April.
“Bethlehem, isn’t that dangerous?” It is not dangerous, because of all the security, the city is probably one of the safest cities . Since tourism is Bethlehem’s main source of income, the city is actually relatively safe. Bad reputation is the last thing city needs. The roads are secure. It is a lovely location.