There is a growing movement among Christians to reincorporate the biblical festivals into their walk with the Lord. While the upcoming festival of Purim is not biblically-mandated like Passover, Sukkot or Yom Kippur, it is nevertheless based on biblical events. In fact, Purim is the one festival that can claim the contents of an entire book of the Bible (Esther) as its basis. As such, Purim is very much relevant for anyone who lives his or her life according to the Word of God.

Recounting the full story of Purim as it appears in the Book of Esther is beyond the scope of this article. Instead, we will look at the themes of Purim, and how they relate to us as Christians.

The Israel Ministry of Tourism has just launched an exciting online video competition in advance of Holy Week. To experience Holy Week in Jerusalem is unique - from the Palm Sunday procession (1 April) from the Mount of Olives to the Old City; Holy Thursday and the Washing of the Feet Ceremony; the Good Friday processions along the Via Dolorosa; the Ceremony of the Holy Fire  in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (unique and particular to Jerusalem); processions on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday at Emmaus when many monks and pilgrims walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus-Latrun.

Orthodox Holy Fire Ceremony; Photo courtesy: Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE

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A special commemorative stamp honoring 100 Years since the laying of the Technion University cornerstone located in Haifa, s being released by Israel's National Post beginning January 31st.

Sasi Shilo, chairman of Israel Postal Authority,said that the stamp "salutes the first academic educational institute established in Israel, and one of the most prominent institutes in its field worldwide".

The stamp design brings encorporates the past, present and future not only of the Technion, but also of the State of Israel,and illustrates the country's contribution as a science and technology pioneer.

The Technion's building façade, designed by on of Israel's pioneers in architecture, the Jewish-German architect Alexander Baerwald, one of the pioneers of modern Israeli architecture. is featured in the stamp.

Credit: Technion University

The stamp also illustrates the Technion's research in and advancement of nano-technology and showcases a photo, taken by Miki Koren, of a nano-parachute growing out of one of the buildings. 

The stamp tab featu

Whoever said that Christmas only comes once a year does not, obviously, live in Jerusalem. Thanks to a glut of Christian denominations confined in one small geographical space, Christmas comes three times in the Holy Land - more here than anywhere else in the world.

In every other part of the world, Christmas can be penciled in on two dates: Dec. 25, celebrated by Catholics and Pentecostals; and Jan. 7 as celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox church.

But due to a calendar glitch, the Armenian Orthodox church in the Holy Land celebrates the Nativity of Jesus on January 18 and January 19th. This also coincides with Russian and Greek Orthodox faithful who will make their annual pilgrimage to Qasr El Yahud for the Feast of Theophany, which they celebrate on that 18th. The Ethiopian Orthodox church will celebrate the Baptism of Jesus on the afternoon of the 18th while on the 19th, the Coptic Orthodox and the Syrian Orthodox Churches will celebrate Epiphany at Qasr El Yahud.