Each year, as the holidays approach, countless Americans find themselves facing a very different kind of season, one marked not by joy, but by grief. This time of year brings up memories of someone they've lost, a relationship that has changed, or a chapter of life that will never look the same again. And while the world tells us to celebrate, the brain tells a different story.
The Book of Matthew in the Bible tells us the story of the Wise Men, the Magi, who came from the East to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?"
It seems that each year, the Christmas season starts a little earlier, as many homes and businesses are already lit up for the holidays. That's not an issue in Jerusalem, where different religions and backgrounds make up a unique melting pot.
A typical year would bring many Christmas visitors to the Church of the Nativity, which is regarded by some as the traditional site of the birth of Jesus. But after 2,000 years, do we really know where Jesus was born?
Nativity scenes, artwork, and popular films attempt to retell the incredible story behind Christ's birth. But sometimes there's a disconnect between these depictions and the biblical details.
Venezuela's National Assembly has approved a measure criminalizing activities that hinder navigation and commerce, like the seizure of oil tankers. This follows recent U.S. seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers in international waters as part of President Trump's pressure campaign on Nicolás Maduro.
Against the backdrop of rising antisemitism, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is calling on Jews from a number of countries to make “Aliyah” (immigrate to Israel). “We stand for the right of every Jew to live in security anywhere. But today, I am calling on Jews in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Canada, and Belgium to immigrate to Israel,” Sa’ar told participants at the “J-50” Forum.
The Nigerian government says all the schoolchildren kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger state are now free.
<p>In Bethlehem, the city known as the birthplace of Jesus, there's something else to celebrate this Christmas. The Nativity Encounter is a new project designed to share the story of Jesus with those who live where the story began.</p>
<p>The Christmas travel rush is on, and it's about a 2-percent increase from last year, making this year's holiday travel period the busiest on record. The auto club AAA says they expect more than 122 million Americans to hit the roads, rails, and skies through New Year's Day. But severe winter weather in some parts of the country could make the journey treacherous. </p>