Bethlehem holds a central place in the New Testament Gospels as the birthplace of Jesus. For over 1,700 years, the Church of the Nativity has marked the spot where, in tradition, “the Word became flesh.” This opening event for the exhibition, Bells of Bethlehem: Sounds from the Church of the Nativity, features renowned New Testament scholar Ben Witherington III discussing Bethlehem in the first century and how it connects to the Gospels. In addition, George Al Ama, a historian and resident of Bethlehem, will highlight the history and recent renovation of the Church of the Nativity.