By Nadya Rasheed

For two months from April 18 to June 28, 2026, Bethlehem found a home in the heart of Mexico City. Hosted by the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Mexico at the Centro Cultural de España en México, Bethlehem Reborn: The Wonders of the Nativity was a two-month-long event that celebrated the restoration of the Church of the Nativity, a UNESCO heritage site. An invitation to encounter Palestine through its history, culture, heritage, and people, the exhibition represented “a message of heritage, faith, and hope,” as President Mahmoud Abbas’s inaugural message so eloquently stated. As Palestinians, we know that our story is too often viewed solely through the lens of occupation and tragedy. But Palestine is also the birthplace of civilizations, a land of extraordinary cultural and religious heritage, centuries-old craftsmanship, music, literature, cuisine, and living traditions that have endured for generations and continue to flourish despite persistent attempts to erase them.

Bethlehem Reborn: The Wonders of the Nativity  evolved into a vibrant platform for cultural diplomacy, where tatreez and dabka workshops, lectures, concerts, poetry readings, film screenings, conversations on Palestinian history and identity, a panel on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Flavors of Memory and Identity, a Palestinian culinary experience and fundraising dinner in support of the Bethlehem Arab Women’s Union, came together to tell a richer story of Palestine. Together, these experiences demonstrated how culture can inspire dialogue, deepen understanding, and foster solidarity. 

What surprised us most was not the number of visitors, but the depth of their engagement. Schoolchildren walked the galleries alongside diplomats. Artists exchanged ideas with religious leaders. University students, academics, tour operators, members of the Palestinian community, and families explored the exhibition together, creating a shared space for dialogue, learning, and cultural exchange. For many, it was their first encounter with Palestine beyond the headlines. 

Teachers returned with new groups of students. Churches organized visits after Sunday services. Universities requested lectures. Families lingered in the galleries for hours. Young Mexicans stayed behind to ask thoughtful questions. Older visitors shared memories of pilgrimages to the Holy Land. Members of the Palestinian community brought their children and grandchildren, many of whom had never had the opportunity to visit Palestine themselves. 

Again and again, we heard the same words: “This is not the Palestine we thought we knew.” 

Perhaps one of the exhibition’s most meaningful achievements was reconnecting Palestinian Mexicans with their roots. For descendants of families who left Bethlehem generations ago, the exhibition was much more than a cultural event. It became a reunion with their own history, identity, and heritage. 

The response was so enthusiastic that Bethlehem Reborn is now embarking on a national tour across Mexico. 

Its next destination is Torreón, home to one of the country’s largest Palestinian communities, where it will be presented at the Museo Regional de La Laguna, part of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History. For many Palestinian Mexicans, this will be the closest they have ever come to experiencing Bethlehem. By bringing Bethlehem to them, the exhibition rekindles a connection that oceans, generations, and distance have not been able to sever, inspiring many to experience Palestine for themselves. From Torreón, the exhibition will continue to Guadalajara, another city with deep historical ties to Palestine, longstanding solidarity with the Palestinian people, and enduring cultural and religious connections to the Holy Land. 

The journey of Bethlehem Reborn has also demonstrated the extraordinary power of partnership. The Embassy of the State of Palestine extends its deepest gratitude to the Centro Cultural de España en México and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Mexico for opening their doors to this initiative and believing in the power of culture to build bridges between peoples. 

Our sincere appreciation also goes to exhibition coordinator Taysir Hasboun, whose dedication helped bring this project to life, and to Mr. George Al-Ama, whose generous loan of an extraordinary collection of historic Palestinian thobes dating back to the 1930s, together with a treasure trove of Palestinian mother-of-pearl craftsmanship, allowed visitors to experience firsthand the richness and beauty of Palestine’s artistic heritage. We are equally grateful to the many institutions, organizations, sponsors, and partners whose collaboration transformed this vision into reality. 

This journey would not have been possible without the vision of Ambassador Issa J. Kassissieh, ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Holy See, whose unwavering belief in the transformative power of cultural diplomacy inspired the creation of the Bethlehem Reborn initiative. His steadfast support has helped it flourish across continents. We are equally grateful to Ambassador Vera Baboun, ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Republic of Chile, whose guidance and encouragement accompanied this initiative as it continued its journey from Chile to Mexico. 

Bethlehem Reborn is, above all, a reminder that cultural diplomacy is never the work of one institution or one individual. It is a shared endeavor, built on the conviction that culture preserves memory, fosters understanding, and builds bridges where politics often cannot. 

Perhaps the most moving lesson of these past months is that people are still willing to listen when Palestinians tell their own story, not only through politics, but through our culture, our music, our literature, our cuisine, our embroidery, our historic sites, and, above all, through our people. 

Culture does not replace political advocacy. It strengthens it. It reminds the world that behind every headline is a people with a history, a homeland, and a future worth protecting. 

In Mexico, Bethlehem Reborn became more than an exhibition. It became an invitation to see Palestine differently. 

At a time when the Palestinian people are enduring the horrors of genocide, and when our history, heritage, and identity face unprecedented threats, every conversation sparked, every stereotype challenged, and every new connection forged becomes an act of cultural preservation.  

When people truly come to know Palestine, they discover that our greatest heritage is found not only in ancient stones or sacred places. It lives in the resilience, creativity, generosity, and dignity of our people. 

This is the story of Palestine that we will continue to share. 

Nadya Rasheed is the ambassador of the State of Palestine to Mexico and Belize. Drawing on more than two decades of experience at the United Nations, she believes diplomacy is most effective when it is guided by dialogue, respect, and a shared commitment to our common humanity.