The Light of Christmas. Peace and Joy to All!
Hope is alive despite Christmas celebrations cancelled In Bethlehem

Dear friends and readers.
First of all, thank you for being a part of this writing project. I added many of you manually 16 months ago when I started this because you are important to me and I cherish the times we have spent together.
We have finally arrived, it’s Christmas Eve.
Not every year do we have the fourth and final Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve fall on the same day of the Christian liturgical calendar.
We are living in wild times. May the light shine brightly on you, all those you love, and the world awaiting a new day of justice and peace.
It's been 76 days of madness in the Palestinian region. There is no safe place near Israel nor their military as they continue to bomb hospitals, churches, mosques, schools, refugee camps, UN shelters, and the limited humanitarian aid that enters Gaza.
I continue to advocate for a ceasefire on Instagram. I’ve had good conversations with friends and strangers asking questions. People are often shocked by my commitment to the Palestinian freedom. I have also been asked:
Why do you care about Palestinians?
Are you Jewish, Muslim, a socialist, or a left-winger?
Why do you care about Arabs? Or Muslims?
But these people are so far away, why even care? Who does it affect you?
Why do you criticize Israel and the US?
Why do you follow Muslims on Instagram and read foreign media and Arab newspapers?
Why do I bring up religion and Jesus when discussing Palestine-Israel?
These questions speak for themselves. They elicit love and empathy from me. Every time you stand for justice, freedom, equality, and love people are quick to question or put a label on you.
My faith in Jesus (not the Church nor Christianity) compels me to speak up. I have no tolerance for injustice. My thirst for knowledge and truth is absolute. I love all people and cherish diversity in all its forms.
I have no issues with Jews. I don’t criticize Israel because I want to; I criticize Israel because I have to. They are committing mass atrocities and war crimes in the name of God, while their acts, words, and behaviors are incompatible with Judaism's teachings.
The actions of the State of Israel do not represent the Jewish people.
Most people in Israel are Zionists. The religion of Zionists is Zionism.
Zionism is a new religion invented by Zionists, which dates back 150 years.
Zionism is not Judaism. There is no Biblical basis for Zionism.
Judaism is the religion of the Jews, which dates back 5000 years.
You cannot address the situation in Palestine-Israel without discussing religion and theology. We are at this point in history primarily because of Zionism, spiritual abuse, false prophesies, idolatry, religious manipulation, Christian nationalism, bad teaching from the Christian Church, Israeli lobby everywhere, AIPAC, and televangelists preaching wrong end times theologies.
Christians have no duty to defend Israel. In fact, once Christians learn the history and the Biblical truth, they will also stand against what Israel has done and is currently doing to Palestinians.
This Christmas, I want:
An immediate ceasefire.
The release of all hostages, including the thousands of Palestinians imprisoned unjustly in Israel and the 130 in Gaza.
An end to the occupation.
Prosecutions for all war crimes, including all the people, countries, and organizations complicit in aiding and perpetuating this genocide.
"We say this with heavy, exhausted, and pained hearts from the horror of what is happening, not only in Gaza but in all our Palestinian cities and villages. What is happening today is similar to what happened at the birth of the Prince of Peace, the Child of the Cave, when Herod killed all of the children out of fear for his throne. The occupation government today is afraid for its throne, killing and deporting people, just as Herod did, but a little child was born in the cave of Bethlehem who gave life to the world, and our hope is in the child Jesus that he will give us the peace that we want today." -Hanna Hananiyah, Mayor of Bethlehem
People wanted to return to normal during the pandemic, while others said normal was dead/gone. The same with Palestine-Israel. Normal is impossible. The genocide keeps going, and it will only end with freedom for Palestinians. That will be peace for all.
In so many ways, Gaza and the Palestinian resistance have strengthened my faith. Humanity and leaders have failed us. White supremacy and dehumanization are normalized and even celebrated. Indifference became the order of the day. In this context, spiritual practices and prayer are necessary to stay sane, healthy, and hopeful.
Let’s hope Advent ends with the promise of Earth renewed and the end of all oppression and violence.
Bethlehem is in Palestine, Jesus's birthplace.
Love, peace, and Happy Holidays to all.
Your friend,
Jorge
Here is the fourth and last Advent Prayer for this year.
Advent Prayer:
4th Sunday of 2023
This fourth Sunday of Advent 2023,
the world will celebrate Christmas
while Bethlehem is under attack.
This day, we remember the birth
of the brown, colonized Palestinian Jew
from the West Bank, named Jesus.
Today, we pray.
For the cleansing of misinformation
and the death of indifference.
For a future of justice and safety.
May the God of light and darkness
transform hatred into kindness
bring freedom to those in bondage
rest for the heavy-laden
and hope for those fighting to survive.
We pray against evil schemes,
false prophets and vicious killers,
let the wall fall flat,
let resistance birth liberation
let the children play.
May the world look to God and see Palestine.
The Israeli occupation will not last forever.
Israel lost the war they started.
The West lost trust worldwide.
The mask is off
true colors are revealed.
We pray for ceasefire, freedom, and peace.
In that order, we pray.
Oh God, hear our prayers.
"O come, O come, Emmanuel"
Amen.
-Jorge Fusaro