The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/santa-claus/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:48:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Santa Claus | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/santa-claus/ 32 32 Bethlehem marks second subdued Christmas, amid pall of ongoing war https://www.timesofisrael.com/bethlehem-marks-second-subdued-christmas-amid-pall-of-ongoing-war/ Wed, 25 Dec 2024 15:50:24 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3446593 Latin patriarch, after visiting Catholics in Gaza, urges faithful in West Bank city to 'not give up,' as pope in Vatican laments 'bombs on schools and hospitals'

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]]> Meet Jerusalem’s ‘only accredited’ Santa, a Palestinian former basketball captain https://www.timesofisrael.com/meet-jerusalems-only-accredited-santa-a-palestinian-former-basketball-captain/ Sun, 04 Dec 2022 06:52:13 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2890036 Former athlete Issa Kassissieh receives visitors of all faiths at his 700-year-old Old City home, which he turned into a festive grotto: 'I open my hands to everybody'

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]]> Bear-killing Jewish doctor takes on Santa Claus, Sarah Palin in Alaska House race https://www.timesofisrael.com/bear-killing-jewish-doctor-takes-on-santa-claus-sarah-palin-in-alaska-house-race/ Thu, 07 Apr 2022 07:00:51 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2741234 Onetime gold prospector is 1 of 50 candidates in special election, alongside Trump-backed former governor and Bernie Sanders-loving Saint Nicholas

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]]> As cases surge, world set to ring in another pandemic Christmas with restrictions https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-cases-surge-world-set-to-ring-in-another-pandemic-christmas-with-restrictions/ Fri, 24 Dec 2021 13:25:08 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2671800 US travelers face misery as airlines cancel flights due to crewing problems caused by virus; Canada says Santa vaccinated and cleared for travel

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]]> Uproar in Italy as bishop tells kids there is no Santa https://www.timesofisrael.com/uproar-in-italy-as-bishop-tells-kids-there-is-no-santa/ Sat, 11 Dec 2021 04:26:15 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2664502 Church forced to apologize, says Sicily's Bishop Antonio Stagliano was only trying underline the true meaning of Christmas

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]]> Israel’s Santa sends season’s greetings from the Golan Heights https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-santa-sends-seasons-greetings-from-the-golan-heights/ Thu, 11 Nov 2021 12:14:12 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2647622 Jerusalem's Old City Santa, Issa Anis Kassissieh, takes a kayaking trip on the River Jordan, tree and presents in tow

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]]> Santa Claus hits the beach for some Christmas volleyball https://www.timesofisrael.com/santa-claus-hits-the-beach-for-some-christmas-volleyball/ Thu, 24 Dec 2020 16:11:42 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2455157 Tel Aviv celebrates holiday season with a jolly contest; in Jerusalem, city's 'official' Santa heads to Dead Sea for some relaxation

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]]> Fauci tells worried kids: I vaccinated Santa, he can come visit https://www.timesofisrael.com/fauci-tells-worried-kids-i-vaccinated-santa-he-can-come-visit/ Sun, 20 Dec 2020 00:31:26 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2451682 'He can come down the chimney, he can leave the presents ... you have nothing to worry about,' top US expert says, describing quick trip to the North Pole

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]]> Dozens of Santas bring some off-season cheer to Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/dozens-of-santas-bring-some-off-season-cheer-to-israel/ Tue, 07 Jan 2020 19:29:32 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2216111 Jerusalem's Santa invites over 40 of his Christmas colleagues for a January visit to the Holy Land

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]]> Dutch-Jewish movie star quits his beloved Santa gig amid racism controversy https://www.timesofisrael.com/dutch-jewish-movie-star-quits-his-beloved-santa-gig-amid-racism-controversy/ Fri, 20 Dec 2019 02:20:43 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2203236 Jeroen Krabbe, who starred in 'The Fugitive,' is grandson of a Holocaust victim and campaigns against racism, but says blackface on Sinterklaas's sidekick isn't why he's leaving

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]]> Egypt’s Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas, ponder changing date https://www.timesofisrael.com/egypts-coptic-christians-celebrate-christmas-ponder-changing-date/ Fri, 28 Dec 2018 14:07:50 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1987777 With evergreen firs and red-robed Santas relatively new to rural Copts, a community with longstanding traditions has mixed reactions to moving the holiday to align with the West

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]]> Despite phone call with Trump, 7-year-old still believes in Santa https://www.timesofisrael.com/despite-phone-call-with-trump-7-year-old-still-believes-in-santa/ Wed, 26 Dec 2018 11:14:10 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1986958 Collman Lloyd was told by US president that at her age it's 'marginal' to still believe in Father Christmas, but says she's never heard that word before

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]]> Trump takes calls from children who want to find Santa Claus https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-takes-calls-from-children-who-want-to-find-santa-claus/ Tue, 25 Dec 2018 01:43:20 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1986284 Taking part in the North American Aerospace Defense Command festive program, US president asks one child whether he still believes in Father Christmas

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]]> This Santa Claus is an Orthodox Jew https://www.timesofisrael.com/this-santa-claus-is-an-orthodox-jew/ Wed, 12 Dec 2018 04:40:30 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1977899 Rick Rosenthal -- a full-time, professional St. Nick -- sees no contradiction between his beliefs and serving as a spiritual figure who provides comfort to young and old

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]]> The real saint on JDate https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/look-who-i-found-on-jdate/ Sun, 24 Dec 2017 10:21:08 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1757308 BTW, being Jewish is a real deal-breaker for me, so I hope you’re planning on converting

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