Now This is Giving

Christmas isn't about giving or getting the biggest gift, it's about giving from the heart. And this story shows me that spirit of giving.

Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - The city of Jerusalem distributed free Christmas trees to Christians on Thursday as part of a longstanding tradition.

For decades, Israel has distributed the trees free of charge, particularly to the ex-patriot community of Christian leaders, journalists, diplomats and others.

One observer quipped that the Jewish State is probably the only country in the world that gives away free Christmas trees to Christians.

It is "symbolic of the way Jerusalem unites all three monotheistic religions," said Jerusalem municipality spokesman Gideon Schmerling in a statement.

The trees are donated by the Jewish National Fund, which is the country's forestry agency.

"Every year we distribute about 1,200 Christmas trees to religious leaders from different churches, diplomats, U.N. representatives, U.N. peacekeepers and the foreign press," said Paul Ginsberg, head of the forestry department of northern Israel.

"We also make trees available for sale for the Christian Arab population," Ginsberg told the Cybercast News Service. Between one thousand and fifteen hundred trees are sold each year.

When I read this article, I was floored, here we have a Jewish Nation that doesn't observe Christmas, in the Middle East, giving away Christmas Trees from their own forrests. Now that is Godly Giving. And it's this kind of giving that touches the heart and represents Christmas. Just another reason that I love Israel and support them.

Mr Minority