Our Story
Bethlehem Crafts, also known as Bethlehem Christians, is owned by brothers Jimmy and Amir Qumsieh, whose family has carved olive wood in Bethlehem for generations. After unrest in the Holy Land, Amir moved his family to the United States, while Jimmy later settled in Indiana with his wife, Christine, whom he met while she was volunteering in Bethlehem.
For more than 20 years, the brothers have offered authentic Holy Land olive wood carvings and religious items at churches, festivals, and communities across the United States.
Though they now live in America, Jimmy and Amir remain closely connected to their hometown of Beit Sahour. By working directly with Christian artisans and families they know personally, they help provide income, preserve a centuries-old craft, and support the Christian community in the land where Jesus was born.
Ancient Values
Bethlehem Crafts is dedicated to upholding the sacred traditions of the one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, born in Jerusalem two millennia ago. Our mission is to safeguard the enduring Christian heritage of the Holy Land by offering a stable livelihood to the faithful who still reside in the ancestral land of the Patriarchs. By supporting these local communities, we help sustain the vibrant presence of believers who tend to the holy sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and beyond, keeping them alive through prayer and the Eucharist.
We embrace all who walk the path of the Christian faith and honor every sincere pursuit of divine knowledge. We remain steadfast in our prayers for a future defined by peace, harmony, and religious understanding across the Holy Land and the entire world.
Our Mission
At Bethlehem Christians, our mission is to support and sustain Christian families in the Holy Land by sharing their handcrafted olive wood carvings at churches, festivals, and online communities around the world. Through these traditional artworks, we help provide income for local artisans while raising awareness about the rapidly declining Christian presence in Palestine and Israel.
For centuries, Christian families in Bethlehem and Jerusalem have relied on tourism and olive wood craftsmanship as a primary source of income. Today, ongoing economic hardship, limited travel, and regional instability have made this support more important than ever.
We proudly work with more than 30 olive wood artisans and several additional Christian families involved in inspection, packaging, and shipping. Every purchase helps preserve a centuries-old tradition and supports Christians remaining in the land where Jesus was born.
Sustainability
The olive tree stands as a cherished national symbol throughout Israel and Palestine, deeply rooted in the region's agricultural life and spiritual heritage.
To maintain the health of these vital trees and ensure a bountiful harvest, they must be carefully pruned every two years. At Bethlehem Crafts, we honor this legacy by using only sustainably sourced trimmings from cultivated groves across the Holy Land. Because we exclusively use these essential prunings, no trees are ever harmed or cut down to create our art. This commitment ensures that each handcrafted piece is not only a meaningful expression of faith but also an environmentally responsible choice that preserves the natural beauty of the Holy Land for generations to come.