S2 E4 - CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: BETHLEHEM with Kamal Mukarker

Andy Steves Travel Podcast

A good friend of mine, father and family man, Kamal Mukarkar calls in on this episode to share about his life and experience growing up as a Christian Palestinian (making up about 1% of the population of the West Bank and Gaza Strip) in Bethlehem. A student of history and the bible, Kamal is passionate about sharing where they intersect in Palestine's West Bank. Kamal is a tour guide showing dozens of tourists around his home town and throughout the West Bank each year. And later in the episode, Kamal and I discuss the best itinerary for a visit to Israel and Palestine.
Don't miss the best part of the episode where Kamal reveals some surprising real-life aspects of the Nativity scene and story given the culture--how it actually would have occured occuring to Jewish culture, and he contrasts that with St. Francis' version of the story dating from the 13th century which we are used to today (not based in historical Jewish tradition at all actually).
References in the episode:
See Kamal on Rick Steves' Holy Land Special at https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/tv-specials/holy-land
Check out cheap flights to Tel Aviv via WizzAir at wizzair.com
Contact Kamal for tours and advice for your next visit: [e-mail]