In case you don’t know what the winter solstice is, Check it out:
The winter solstice, also known as the hibernal solstice, is a crucial astronomical event marking the moment when one of Earth’s poles achieves its maximum axial tilt away from the Sun. This phenomenon occurs annually, once in the Northern Hemisphere and once in the Southern Hemisphere. For the hemisphere experiencing the event, the winter solstice is characterized as the day with the shortest duration of daylight and, consequently, the longest night of the entire year. At this precise time, the Sun reaches its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky, a point known as its culmination. In the immediate vicinity of the Earth’s polar regions—the areas within the Arctic or Antarctic Circles—the winter solstice is associated with a period of continuous darkness or extended twilight, a phenomenon known as the polar night.
Throughout human history, dating back to prehistory, the winter solstice has held profound cultural and spiritual significance, leading to its commemoration with widespread festivals and rituals. It symbolically represents the death and subsequent rebirth of the Sun. This is because the gradual, daily decrease in daylight hours that characterizes the approach of winter is dramatically reversed on the solstice, marking the moment when the daylight hours begin their slow, steady growth toward summer once more. The enduring importance of this event is physically manifested in various ancient monuments and megalithic structures. Sites such as Newgrange in Ireland, Stonehenge in England, and Cahokia Woodhenge in the United States were meticulously constructed and aligned to the precise rising or setting point of the Sun on the winter solstice, underscoring its pivotal role in early astronomical observation and cultural practices.
Now that we get THAT out of the way, Let’s talk about Christmas… And it’s true origins.
Now that we got THAT out of the way, I have a holiday message… but first, a little context.
The situation across the region remains acutely volatile, characterized by an extreme fragility that threatens to shatter the delicate, US-backed peace initiative. At the heart of this instability is the tenuous ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Although intended to be a foundational step toward de-escalation, this pause in hostilities is under incessant pressure, with a consistent pattern of violations reported by both the Israeli military and various Palestinian militant factions. This pervasive inability to strictly adhere to the terms of the truce has created a significant impediment, effectively stalling the crucial transition into the second, more substantive phase of the peace plan, which was designed to tackle complex political negotiations and long-term security arrangements.
Simultaneously, the humanitarian crisis gripping the Gaza Strip has worsened, showing no sign of near-term relief. The scale of the catastrophe is unprecedented, marked by the systematic destruction of civil infrastructure, critically low reserves of essential commodities—including food, potable water, and medical supplies—and the mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of people who have been left homeless and vulnerable. International relief agencies are issuing increasingly dire warnings, emphasizing that the civilian population stands perilously close to widespread famine and a public health disaster of monumental proportions, as sanitation systems collapse and diseases spread unchecked.
Concurrently, the situation in the occupied West Bank is spiraling into an escalating crisis that dramatically compounds the regional instability. The territory has seen a devastating surge in violence. This includes an alarming increase in lethal confrontations between Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents, alongside a relentless tempo of Israeli military operations and arrests. This combustible security environment is systematically undermined by the persistent, unauthorized expansion of Israeli settlements. This continuous settlement activity is widely recognized as a fundamental obstacle that diminishes the geographical and political viability of a future two-state solution, thereby serving only to further inflame deeply held grievances and tensions throughout the entire West Bank. The stark reality is that the convergence of these separate, yet intricately linked, crises—the failing truce in Gaza and the surge in violence and illegal settlement growth in the West Bank—underscores the profound and multifaceted challenges that obstruct any path toward a durable and comprehensive resolution to the decades-long conflict.—–As the calendar year draws to a close, marked by the celestial significance of the winter solstice—the moment that heralds the promise of longer, returning daylight—I feel compelled to share a deeply personal and heartfelt holiday message. This message is specifically addressed to two extraordinary individuals whose work represents a beacon of hope amid the darkness. For the purpose of public acknowledgment and to protect their operational integrity, I will refer to them by the pseudonyms I have chosen to reflect the unique and precious nature of their respective assignments: “Ruby” and her essential, steadfast partner, “Sapphire.”
These two remarkable and resilient women are currently stationed in a region of unparalleled historical, spiritual, and geopolitical significance: the Holy Land. They are not present as casual observers or tourists, but rather as dedicated agents committed to enacting positive, ground-level change. They are devoting their time, expertise, and emotional energy to a mission that is as challenging as it is profoundly essential. While their work necessitates a high degree of discretion, its unwavering objective is clear: to foster deep understanding, to actively build bridges across seemingly impassable divides, and to do everything humanly possible to cultivate a more peaceful, compassionate, and hopeful future for all the diverse inhabitants of that complex and precious part of the world.
Therefore, from the quiet, reflective majesty of the winter solstice, extending all the way through to the dawning of the New Year on January 1st, 2026, my deepest and most sincere wish and message to them is: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
May the powerful and resonant spirit of the season infuse you both with renewed strength and purpose. May you continue to freely and generously disseminate your inherent goodness, empathy, and love to every single soul you encounter, and may the enduring influence of your actions ripple outward, touching and transforming the lives of all those within your sphere. Please know that we hold you continually in our thoughts and prayers as you navigate the intricate and often dangerous complexities of your assignment. We wish you not only resounding success in your mission but, most critically, absolute safety. Complete this vital work with the same grace, resilience, and indomitable strength that we know you possess, and, above all else, please understand that we are eagerly, anxiously anticipating your safe and complete return home. May you both come back in one piece. The world is in desperate need of the light and moral clarity that is uniquely brought by Ruby and Sapphire.
Jogo Corpo Fechado 