Judith Sudilovsky, ENInews, Dec.22. www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5370
Both Christmas lights and Hanukkah dreidels (spinning tops) are appearing as decorations as the northern Israeli port city of Haifa throws a multi-faith party on December weekends.
Now in its 18th year, the Holiday of Holidays — which also includes the recently-celebrated Muslim Eid al-Adha — is meant “to share the differences and honor them,” said Assaf Ron, director of the Beit Hageffen Jewish-Arab Center which organizes the festival along with the Haifa municipality.
This year, Israeli-Arab singer Mira Awad will share a music stage with Israeli-Jewish singer Rami Fortis as well as with other Arab and Jewish bands. “There will be a real European holiday feel to it with lights and Santa Claus and spinning tops. That is the spirit of Haifa,” said Ron in a telephone interview. Police estimated some 60,000 people attended the festival over the 17-18 December weekend.
“We want to show Jews, Christians, and Muslims that we can celebrate our holidays together, we can be together in a big open venue, mix together, and not feel strange or fearful,” Ron said.