Merry Xmas - from the JNF and your Blue Box

(Hat tip - Anonymous)

JNF funds Christmas tree distribution in J'lem

Abe Selig , THE JERUSALEM POST Dec. 16, 2009

In an effort to spread some holiday cheer, the Jerusalem Municipality on Wednesday announced that it would be distributing free Christmas trees to the capital's Christian residents in front of the Old City's Jaffa Gate on the morning of Christmas Eve.

The distribution will take place from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. next Wednesday, and 100 Christmas trees will be handed out.

According to the municipality, the trees are supplied by the Jewish National Fund, which owns large swaths of forest-land across the country.

A JNF spokeswoman told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that while the JNF gives out large numbers of trees to all of the country's municipalities for Tu Bishvat celebrations in January, the Jerusalem Municipality was purchasing a special type of tree - the tops of pines - for NIS 70 each.

"These are the tops of trees that look very much like Christmas trees," the spokeswoman said. "They're small - between 40 and 50 centimeters tall - and grow back on their own every two years."

In response, a municipality spokesman said, "Just like the municipality pays for hundreds of menoras to go up all over the city during Hanukka, and just like we assist with preparations for Ramadan, we also distribute Christmas trees."

There are people of faith from the world's three major religions living in the city, and we respect them all and want them to enjoy their respective holidays.