Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more

ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 343

Santa Claus

Issa Kassissieh, dressed as Santa Claus, poses for a picture as he rides a camel at Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem's Old City on December 2, 2022 (AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)
December 4, 2022, 8:52 am
Meet Jerusalem’s ‘only accredited’ Santa, a Palestinian former basketball captain
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’
By Gareth Browne
Independent candidate Al Gross (Gross for Senate Campaign via AP)
April 7, 2022, 10:00 am
Bear-killing Jewish doctor takes on Santa Claus, Sarah Palin in Alaska House race
Onetime gold prospector is 1 of 50 candidates in special election, alongside Trump-backed former governor and Bernie Sanders-loving Saint Nicholas
By Andrew Lapin
A woman prepares a Christmas tree decoration at a church in Bali, Indonesia on, Dec. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
December 24, 2021, 3:25 pm
As cases surge, world set to ring in another pandemic Christmas with restrictions
US travelers face misery as airlines cancel flights due to crewing problems caused by virus; Canada says Santa vaccinated and cleared for travel
By Andrew BEATTY
A man dressed as Santa Claus holds a flare as he sits on a boat during a Christmas eve celebrations in Imperia, Italy, Monday, Dec. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
December 11, 2021, 6:26 am
Uproar in Italy as bishop tells kids there is no Santa
Church forced to apologize, says Sicily’s Bishop Antonio Stagliano was only trying underline the true meaning of Christmas
By AP
Issa Anis Kassissieh, the official Ambassador of the Holy Land Santa, kayaks in the Jordan River in the Golan Heights as part of his Christmas 2021 greeting. (Courtesy: Omri Masika and Roi Peretz)
November 11, 2021, 2:14 pm
Israel’s Santa sends season’s greetings from the Golan Heights
Jerusalem’s Old City Santa, Issa Anis Kassissieh, takes a kayaking trip on the River Jordan, tree and presents in tow
By Jessica Steinberg
Four volleyball-playing Santa Clauses have a game on the Tel Aviv beach (Courtesy YoSee Gamzoo Letova/Tel Aviv Global & Tourism)
December 24, 2020, 6:11 pm
Santa Claus hits the beach for some Christmas volleyball
Tel Aviv celebrates holiday season with a jolly contest; in Jerusalem, city’s ‘official’ Santa heads to Dead Sea for some relaxation
By Jessica Steinberg
This combination of pictures created on December 19, 2020 shows Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci at the White House on April 9, 2020, in Washington, DC and a man dressed as Santa Claus wearing a red face mask in Libourne, France, on December 10, 2020.(Photos by JIM WATSON and thibaud MORITZ / AFP)
December 20, 2020, 2:31 am
Fauci tells worried kids: I vaccinated Santa, he can come visit
‘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
By AFP
One of many Santas currently visiting Israel on a January 2020 Ministry of Tourism trip (Courtesy Israel Ministry of Tourism)
January 7, 2020, 9:29 pm
Dozens of Santas bring some off-season cheer to Israel
Jerusalem’s Santa invites over 40 of his Christmas colleagues for a January visit to the Holy Land
By Jessica Steinberg
Dutch actor Jeroen Krabbe, with wife Irma in 2008, has played the local version of Santa Claus for a decade and calls it a 'highlight of my life.' (Greetsia Tent/Getty Images/via JTA)
December 20, 2019, 4:20 am
Dutch-Jewish movie star quits his beloved Santa gig amid racism controversy
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
By Cnaan Liphshiz
A villager wearing a traditional peasant galabiya gown inspects Christmas trees in El Kosheh, Egypt, on December 18, 2018. (RNS photo/ Fady Hadny)
December 28, 2018, 4:07 pm
Egypt’s Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas, ponder changing date
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
By Mina Nader and Jacob Wirtschafter
Collman Lloyd, 7, speaking to US President Donald Trump on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2018. (Screenshot: YouTube)
December 26, 2018, 1:14 pm
Despite phone call with Trump, 7-year-old still believes in Santa
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
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Donald Trump in Home Alone 2 (screenshot)
December 25, 2018, 3:43 am
Trump takes calls from children who want to find Santa Claus
Taking part in the North American Aerospace Defense Command festive program, US president asks one child whether he still believes in Father Christmas
By AP
Rick Rosenthal is a professional, year-round Santa who also attends Congregation Young Israel of Toco Hills in Atlanta. (Courtesy of Rosenthal/ via JTA)
December 12, 2018, 6:40 am
This Santa Claus is an Orthodox Jew
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
By Ben Sales
Judi Zirin
December 24, 2017, 12:21 pm
Judi Zirin
The real saint on JDate
BTW, being Jewish is a real deal-breaker for me, so I hope you’re planning on converting
Jerusalem Santa, as portrayed by Issa Kassissieh, walking the ramparts of the Old City in Jerusalem, on December 21, 2017. (Jessica Steinberg/Times of Israel)
December 23, 2017, 9:19 am
Trading sleigh for camel, Jerusalem Santa puts the ‘ho, ho, ho’ in holy city
Red-suited ex-basketball player Issa Kassissieh, a Christmas fixture in the Old City, is cheerier than ever this year after training at Denver’s Professional Santa Claus School
By Jessica Steinberg
Load More
Sign in or Register
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.