There are not likely to be many glad tidings from Bethlehem this Christmas, save in the eternal sense. Still, the work of Bethlehem Baubles holds out some hope as it draws together Jews, Christians and Muslims in a project that its founder, Ros Pollock, sees as part of fostering a deeper sense of connection and cohesion in a troubled and war-torn region. As thoughts in the comfortable West turned to the festive season, she spoke to me about its work.
“Bethlehem Baubles aims to provide a grass roots, fair living wage to a struggling community,” she said. “The project makes a very real difference to local artisans, particularly for women who can paint the baubles at home: it enables them to earn a living while raising a family.” The attractive glass spheres are hand-blown by Muslims in Hebron, hand-painted by Christians in Bethlehem, and shipped by Jews from Ashdod. The project is coordinated with the Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans (BFTA), who employ skilled locals for a variety of crafts and sell olive wood and ceramic products all around the world. Headed up by Suzan Sahori, BFTA is a family business based on Milk Grotto Street in Bethlehem, just around the corner from the ancient Church of the Nativity, with its famous silver star that marks the site of the Lord’s birth.
