Before we went to Bethlehem, we stayed in Jerusalem at the clean, comfortable Eden Hotel, owned by Line, a gracious and efficient Jewish woman; friendly Muslim women cooked our yummy buffet breakfasts. Throughout our trip, we experienced many such examples of Jewish/Arab cooperation and interaction within Israel.
We tour members met that Saturday evening to say farewell to our Servas Israeli hosts. For ten days, they had housed and fed us, shared their lives, shown us important historical and religious sites (especially Christian for this Christmas season); we know them as wonderful, generous people. Many of our Israeli hosts and their family members had incredible stories of suffering, survival — and miracles — in order to be alive –and live in Israel.