Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

Huckabee visits Santa in Jerusalem’s Old City

A Christmas tree lighting ceremony was held at the capital’s YMCA.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and his wife, Janet, at Santa’s House in Jerusalem on Dec. 6, 2025. Source: Ambassador Mike Huckabee/X.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and his wife, Janet, at Santa’s House in Jerusalem on Dec. 6, 2025. Source: Ambassador Mike Huckabee/X.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Saturday invited his followers on X to visit Santa’s House in Jerusalem.

Situated in the Old City’s Christian Quarter, near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Santa’s House is run by an Israeli Arab Christian who transforms part of his family’s 700-year-old home into a Christmas wonderland with Santa and decorations ahead of the holiday.

Huckabee said that he had a “great day” with his wife, Janet, when visiting the “gracious and hospitable Santa of Jerusalem for a HO HO HO-lyland Christmas!”

Earlier in the week, the Israeli embassy in Washington shared its excitement for the holiday season, posting a video of a Christmas tree lighting ceremony that took place at the Jerusalem International YMCA on King David Street.

Huckabee has been using the X platform to share his holiday activities in the Jewish state.

In late November, the Huckabees visited the American military facility in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel, to help serve a Thanksgiving repast for the 150 American service members stationed at the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) to oversee the 20-point peace plan for the Gaza Strip.

“They are far from home but they had a true American feast! God bless our troops!” the ambassador tweeted.

Over the past week, Huckabee accompanied more than 1,000 evangelical pastors from around the world who came to visit Israel for the Ambassador Summit, organized in partnership with Israel’s Foreign Ministry to equip Christian leaders to counter rising antisemitism and speak more effectively on Israel’s behalf.

“We need the pulpits of America to be on fire with the truth,” the American diplomat told the visitors in a fiery address.

“I pray that you don’t just go back home and say, ‘Oh, I had wonderful trip. I took some good pictures. I saw some wonderful sites.’ I hope you will go back to the U.S. with the fire of God burning in your bones and say it is time to be pro-biblical, because then you will find your voice to be pro-Israel,” Huckabee told the evangelical leaders.

Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) is the fastest-growing news agency covering Israel and the Jewish world. We provide news briefs features opinions and analysis to 100 print newspapers and digital publications on a daily basis.
The Gulf state accompanied its X post with an image of a Seder plate and matza.
Hezbollah launched some 100 rockets coupled with drones at the Jewish state since the start of the holiday.
The Iranian-backed group attacked Israelis as they marked the Exodus, just as the Amalekites attacked the Israelites when they left Egypt, the defense minister said.
The film documents the circumstances of the small rural town of Gniewoszów, focusing on one of its last living survivors, along with a resident who says he saw Jews murdered there six months after the Nazis’ reign of terror ended.
The episodes will “reveal fascinating stories,” IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said.
“This week we are reminded that with true faith, eternal hope and the power of prayer, nothing can stop the people of God.”