Israel

In 1997 I spent Christmas on a Kibbutz in Northern Israel. What an interesting experience! The Kibbutz was 2km from the demilitarised zone in the Golan Heights, along the border with Syria. The area was littered with mines and as volunteers we were told not to stray from the Kibbutz.

On the 25th December it was just the same as any other day on the Kibbutz, no presents, no turkey, no crackers, and no annoying Christmas adverts. Our bosses gave us the usual breakfast before we left to work a normal day on the Kibbutz. Jews don't celebrate Christmas; instead they have Hanukkah around the same time, which involves lighting a flame on the Hanukkah candle each night.

A Kibbutznik told me an amusing story. The real reason for Hanukkah! He told me that all Jewish children were jealous of the presents that the Christian children received at that time of the year and thus Hanukkah was created.

Nevertheless come evening there was a pork free Christmas dinner and we all got very sloshed on Arak (a strong Middle Eastern spirit).

Author: Simon Spicknell
Date: 1 December 2001