(live here) – In spite of the massive shooting and the severe injuries suffered by Haifa and the nearby cities, as of now the "Holiday of the Holidays" festival is supposed to take place as it does every year. The festival, which will mark its 31st anniversary this year, aims to promote coexistence, culture and joint celebration of the various religious holidays, has long since become a magnificent Haifa tradition, is scheduled for December 19-27, 2024, and will include about 30 cultural events throughout the city of Haifa.
Is this the right time?
The municipality's decision to hold the festival despite the tense security situation, arouses disputes and doubts among the residents of Haifa. While the film festival planned for the holiday of Sukkot was postponed this year due to threats of escalation, the holiday festival of the holidays is somehow getting the "green light", at least for now. Is the purpose of the move to transmit resistance and resilience in the public? And isn't it about taking unnecessary risks that border on irresponsibility? "This is not routine, it is a dangerous illusion," say the opponents.
Hope, resilience and unity
The organizers of the festival and the administration of the municipality emphasize the importance of the event as a symbol of hope, resistance and unity. The mayor of Haifa stated that "the festival expresses the values of coexistence of the city's residents, who refuse to succumb to fear and continue to celebrate the cultural diversity of Haifa."
The festival has a different format
This year, the events will take place mainly in closed places, such as the Beit Hagafen center, to enable defense in case of alarms. Among the planned activities: music shows, art exhibitions, guided tours, plays for children and activities for the family. However, the question arises whether these places include protected spaces for all those present.
A message of hope or an unnecessary risk?
While the festival aims to instill optimism in the residents and allow a respite from the heavy routine, one cannot help but wonder if these goals, as important and positive as they may be, are worth the risk? Are there enough protected spaces for all participants? What is certain is that this year, more than ever, the festival symbolizes the delicate balance between standing firm and necessary caution.
The response from Beit HaHafen was given: "The events will take place only in accordance with the directives of the Home Front Command and in places that will be approved according to all the requirements. The plan is tentative and will be implemented according to the directives."
Until what date will the holidays last?
"Beautiful Haifa" = the city-the largest "volume" in Israel (3) emphasizes that it is characterized as the #1 "Cultural and Art Center" in Israel in general and in the Great Northern District in particular...!@ It is very important to "sustain in order to exist"...!!!@@ @ "Immunity of the Resilience Warehouse"@
I suggest to Mr. Yahav - the honorable mayor, to make the necessary efforts to return to the Haifa "tradition" as well:
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL FLOWERS
& NATIONAL SCULPTURE SAND-ART
And "a big thank you" to the RA + to all those doing the work...!!!@@@
In my eyes, this horrible combination between pure holiness and complete impurity.. is wrong and forbidden and I do not envy the initiators of this act. In any case, everyone knows that this is hypocrisy from all sides and does not bring any imagined "peace"!
An important festival that deserves to be held. Kudos to Yona Yahav and Assaf Ron and the management of Beit Hagafen. Haifa should be as it was a symbol of true hope
Yes, - sounds very logical!.
it's time And we must not cancel a holiday from one of these, even if it is difficult for us now.
Haifa is a special city that has learned to live in partnership with mutuality and respect despite everything.
I wish all the shared cities would learn from us.
Proud to be from Haifa ever since.
Sanity is here
Happy new year to everyone.
As someone who was born and raised in Haifa, as long as the safety instructions are obeyed, this is a welcome initiative.
Events and celebrations happen in many cities in Israel, this does not contradict the desire to return the abductees and even vice versa. If there are also no places to rest and renew energy, there would not be enough mental strength to go out and demonstrate and demand the return of the abductees.
As someone who has lived in the city all his life in mixed neighborhoods, (of course without generalizing, extremists are everywhere) but Haifa as I know it is home to a diverse community that wants to live quietly and peacefully and does not wish harm on anyone. People of all nationalities with a sincere desire to develop together a different way, and a central way for this is also in trade and business. Therefore the holiday of the holidays as a Haifa tradition, even if it is not perfect, shows a common desire and intentions of unity around the good and the common between us and shows a unique form in the land of joint celebrations. I wish that this sharing, if not for the heavy political weight of the time, would also have reached more demonstrations.
Despite the extremism of political opinions today, I wish to all my fellow Haifaites of all religions, students, doctors, teachers, business owners, in restaurants, in culture and in all other places in the city that we know how to muster the courage to recognize a complex and difficult reality, and differentiate between good and bad and humane treatment before one side or the other. That we should not be afraid of each other's pain, and that we should know how to lend a hand and support the values of dialogue and respect, also, and especially if we disagree.
Well done ❤️ to you
Only in ways of peace and coexistence is it possible to live in this country.
We have tried wars since the founding of the state and nothing came of it. You are a symbol and an exemplary example for the other cities in the country. Extremism has an interest in dominating the other. Extremism is the bluff that complicates all the citizens of the country here and abroad. Bless you.
Until the abductees are returned, no one is allowed to celebrate!) except for personal transfusions) they must go to the streets and shout!!!
Going out, shouting and continuing to live at the same time. Who exactly forbids it? The holiday of the holidays is a very personal event for me
Yes, it makes sense. There is a life that must be lived above the situation. all due respect
With the loss and grief it is important to continue life, the holiday of the holidays is a wonderful and important tradition in Haifa and the coexistence is real and comforting. Doesn't suit you - don't come
A. The fact that there will be a ceasefire in Zoya does not mean that they will not try to carry out a nationalist attack.
on. As long as Israel is at war - this event must not be held.
third. We have the holiday of Hanukkah, the holiday of the Jewish people.
Completely unnecessary and inappropriate for wartime
With all due respect, last year we Christians did not celebrate and all we have are two holidays a year which are of love and joy at least our holiday will bring the people out of everything they have been through
So it makes a lot of sense
Yes, it makes a lot of sense.
Especially now it is important to maintain coexistence in Haifa. And if you haven't noticed, life in the center and in Jerusalem continued as usual despite the war and despite the abductees.
Oh let's try to save our dying city economy
There is no coexistence, there is a dual threat.
Educating their children to hate this country and to not be loyal citizens in it.
Nationalist incitement arrays.
And we continue with self-delusion.
There is a Hanukkah holiday and we will celebrate it
Israel is the national home of the Jewish people who celebrate the holidays of Israel.
You don't need to mix and make chatanz with the imaginary Santa in Coca Cola colors, and fir trees that come from pagan beliefs of druids who prayed on trees, what's that and us?!
A festival of terrorist supporters
Imani Nebar
No need. All in all, a festival that is good for merchants to make money from the Jewish public.
Unnecessary and not needed.
Just like that, they might also hang Palestinian flags
Held under the updated name:
Dancing on the blood of the murdered, injured and kidnapped