Bethlehem
Bethlehem (also Bethlehem Ephratah; Arabic بيت لحم Bait Lahm, DMG Bayt Lahm, Hebrew בית לחם, Beth Lehem ) is a city in the West Bank with 29,930 inhabitants. The city belongs to the Palestinian territories and borders in the north to Jerusalem. It is home to two universities. To Bethlehem agglomeration includes Beit Dschala and Beit Sahur; the latter place has such Bethlehem biblical significance. Mayor of Bethlehem is since November 2012, the Arab Christian Vera Baboun. For the 2.2 billion Christians, the city is of particular importance because it is according to tradition, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
Etymology
The meaning of the name Bethlehem is currently unknown. During bet the word for "house" is, on the other hand is paralyzed in Arabic for " meat " in Hebrew lechem for " bread " in some South Arabian dialects for " fish ". That is, the root originally referred to the staple food. In modern languages Bethlehem has the meaning of house of the flesh or the house of bread.
It is also possible a derivation of the second word constituent from the homonymous root LHM "fight" with the semantic field; Bethlehem would have the meaning " house of the struggle." Other interpretations relate the divine couple Lahmu / Lahamu in their considerations, a, Bethlehem would therefore be the "house of the deity L. ".
Biblical tradition
The place is first mentioned in Genesis 35:19 EU in the Bible. It says that Jacob's beloved wife Rachel " on the road to Ephrath, which is now called Bethlehem ," was buried. After the conquest of Canaan by the Israelite tribes, the town fell to the tribe of Judah. Also, the events from the book of Ruth takes place to a great extent in Bethlehem from both Ruth and father Elimelech as well as her future husband Boaz came from this place (Ruth 1.1 EU).
Bethlehem was after 1 Sam 16.1 EU the origin of David, where the expected Messiah, a descendant ( "son" ) of David should be born ( 5.1 Mi EU). In this verse it is called " Bethlehem Ephrathah ", to distinguish it from another place called Bethlehem, who was in the tribal territory of Zebulun, about 11 km west-northwest of Nazareth.
According to Matthew and Luke 2:4-11 EU 2.1 EU Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Probably the exact place of birth in a cave is already revered from the 2nd century. Since 333 is the Church of the Nativity in place. On 29 June 2012, the Church of the Nativity was inscribed on the World Heritage list of UNESCO. It is disputed whether Bethlehem is actually the birthplace of Jesus.
A 3000- year-old seal is the oldest extra-biblical evidence for the existence of the place in the Kingdom of Judah.
Universities
Since 1973, there is the Catholic University of Bethlehem, founded by the Vatican. There are 3,014 students enrolled; a third of Christians and two-thirds of Muslims (as of 2010 ). It is taught philosophy, economics and natural sciences, education, nursing and tourism. In addition, a course of eight semesters is offered with theological, religious and sociological subjects, which is concluded with a Bachelor of Arts.
In September 2007 the establishment of a second university in Bethlehem was announced by the Palestinian administration. The recording of the trial operation at the Ahliya University was carried out with immediate effect.
Hospitals
In 1882, French Daughters of Charity opened a hospital, from 1990, the hospital, " the Holy Family " ( Holy family hospital ), a maternity hospital with outstations Order of Malta emerged.
The Children's Relief Bethlehem operates since 1952 the Caritas Baby Hospital, the only Palestinian children's hospital in the West Bank, which involves the mothers in the treatment of children.
Tourism
The tourism was for the city always been an important source of income. The proximity to Jerusalem dwelt many tour groups earlier rather in the cheaper hotels than in the Palestinian capital. After the autonomy therefore creating large new hotels that have been built by returned emigrants, such as Hotel Bethlehem, Nativity Hotel. The daycare center was car-free after the construction of a parking garage. The many souvenir shops also lived by the day trippers well. With great zeal the Jubilee Year 2000 has been prepared and opened, but the outbreak of the Second Intifada destroyed all efforts. The repeated occupation of the city ( even with siege of the Nativity and St. Catherine's Church ) caused major damage. The Great Wall of disabled tourism massively avoiding the hassle crossing the border inspection post meant that the groups rarely stayed in the city. The big hotels were forced to close again or reduce their capacity. Day visitors had the bus and the guide switch on the border of Jerusalem. The large workshops for olive wood carvings had to lay off many employees. They could still sell their products in Jerusalem, but with less profit.
In 2010, the tourism situation has improved considerably since nearly half of the tourists stayed in Bethlehem and visit the local restaurants; many souvenir shops sell their wares. The Palestinian Authority estimates that by the year with a record attendance of up to two million. Furthermore, since 2000, find tourist guides held by Israeli tour guide.
Economic Conference
Bethlehem was hosting the 2008 largest ever taken place in the Palestinian Territories Economic Conference, the Palestine Investment Conference. The initiative came from the Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. It was attended by over 1,000 businessmen, bankers and government officials largely in part from the Middle East. The conference was continued in 2010 under the auspices of President Mahmoud Abbas with nearly 2000 participants from 32 countries.
Current situation
North of the city runs the Israeli separation barrier which separates with an up to eight-meter high wall of Jerusalem and Bethlehem smaller Palestinian villages like Walaja and Jaba. The freedom of movement of Palestinian residents of the city of Bethlehem is limited.
In the Bethlehem agglomeration, there were few mosques 50 years ago. Today there are about 100 on the day of arrival Arafat on 23 December 1994 have been prepared on the roof of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, a 4x4 -meter model of the Muslim Dome of the Rock. The Christians responded by setting up large lighted crosses on their private homes. In January 1994, a few days after the surrender of Bethlehem to the Palestinian Authority (PA), lived exactly 49 654 Christians in the Palestinian- controlled areas in the West Bank and Gaza. Since then to 10,754 Christians have left these areas, about half of them since the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada in September 2000. Bethlehem alone, the largest concentration of Christians, whose number decreased from 29 401 to 23 659. The reasons for this are controversial. While the Israeli government and pro-Israel groups make the tensions between Christians and Muslims due to the strengthening Islamist currents as well as the social gap between more affluent Christians and poorer Muslims responsible for a survey from 2006 showed, among the Christian residents of the city, conducted by Palestinian Centre for Research and Cultural Dialogue, found that 78 % of Christians make the Israeli travel restrictions for the exodus of their co-religionists responsible. Furthermore, gave to have 90 % of Muslim friends, and other 73.3 % of Bethlehem Christians believe that the PA treats Christian heritage in the city with respect.
It has long been established that must be the mayor, his deputy, and the majority of the City Council of Christians. Even the denomination of the mayor is set: Greek Orthodox or Roman Catholic. Given the population growth stirs the part of the Muslim resistance against this statute. On the other hand, this fact allows the partner cities to maintain political contacts with the Hamas -dominated community.
Twin Cities
Bethlehem has over 30 partner cities around the world:
- Italy Florence, Italy, since 1962
- Italy Assisi, Italy, since 1989
- Italy Orvieto, Italy, since 1996
- Italy Greccio, Italy, since 1992
- Italy Civitavecchia, Italy, since 1998
- Italy Prato Vecchio, Italy, since 1993
- Italy Verona, Italy, since 1998
- Italy Montevarchi, Italy, since 1993
- Italy Milan, Italy, since 2000
- Italy Brescia, Italy, since 2007
- Italy Otranto, Italy, since 2008
- Italy Gallipoli, Italy, since 2008
- Italy Montesarchio, Italy, since 2008
- Norway Sarpsborg, Norway, since 1997
- United Kingdom Glasgow, United Kingdom, since 1992
- Netherlands The Hague, Netherlands, since 2000
- Germany Cologne, Germany, since 1996
- Austria Steyr, Austria, since 1999
- France Saint- Herblain, France, since 1992
- France Chartres, France, since 1994
- France Strasbourg, France, since 1998
- France Creil, France, since 2009
- Spain Córdoba, Spain, since 1988
- Portugal Lisbon, Portugal
- Morocco Rabat, Morocco, since 1999
- South Africa Pretoria, South Africa, since 1999
- Greece Athens, Greece
- Yalvaç Turkey, Turkey, since 2000
- Jordan Madaba, Jordan, since 1996
- United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi, UAE, since 1977
- Brazil Valinhos, Brazil, since 1996
- Brazil São Pedro do Butiá, Brazil, since 2008
- Peru Cusco, Peru, since 1994
- Mexico Monterrey, Mexico, since 1997
- United States Orlando, United States, since 2001
- United States Burlington, USA, since 1993
- United States Sacramento, USA, since 2009
- Australia Marrickville, Australia, since 2008
In addition there are also partnerships with the regions of Umbria in Italy and KwaZulu -Natal in South Africa.
In connection with peace actions of young people is the ecumenical scale action " Peace Light from Bethlehem ", which in Austria began in 1986. Carriers are the churches in Germany as well as the Girl Scouts and Scout associations.
Freeman
- Gottfried Dossing (1906-1997), German Roman Catholic prelate
- Hermann Leithenmayr (1941-2010), Austrian trade unionist and politician ( SPÖ)