[10.13.08] More than 7,000 Christians are expected to descend on Jerusalem this week
for the 29th annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration sponsored by the
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ). The gathering, which began
Monday and runs through Sunday, is considered the largest annual tourism event
in Israel and is expected to pour $18 million to $20 million into the local
economy.
for the 29th annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration sponsored by the
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ). The gathering, which began
Monday and runs through Sunday, is considered the largest annual tourism event
in Israel and is expected to pour $18 million to $20 million into the local
economy.
“Our Christian pilgrims are coming up to Jerusalem once more to join the
Jewish people in marking this traditional feast of joy,” said the Rev. Malcolm
Hedding, ICEJ executive director. “But their presence here at this particular
time also constitutes a major statement of solidarity with Israel as it
confronts the growing threat of a nuclear Iran, while also bringing a major
financial injection into the local economy at a very critical moment.”
Jewish people in marking this traditional feast of joy,” said the Rev. Malcolm
Hedding, ICEJ executive director. “But their presence here at this particular
time also constitutes a major statement of solidarity with Israel as it
confronts the growing threat of a nuclear Iran, while also bringing a major
financial injection into the local economy at a very critical moment.”
Although most feast events will take place at the International Convention
Center Jerusalem, the annual Jerusalem March will take participants into the
streets Wednesday, where they will wave colorful flags and publicly acknowledge
their solidarity with Israel.
Center Jerusalem, the annual Jerusalem March will take participants into the
streets Wednesday, where they will wave colorful flags and publicly acknowledge
their solidarity with Israel.
The Succot celebration, the Jewish name for the feast, comes at a time when
Israel faces an alarming threat from Iran, whose president has called for the
annihilation of the Jewish nation. At a press conference Thursday, ICEJ leaders
will announce the uniting of top Christian and Jewish leaders and organizations
behind a global campaign launched by ICEJ last month to indict Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for incitement to commit genocide against Israel.
Israel faces an alarming threat from Iran, whose president has called for the
annihilation of the Jewish nation. At a press conference Thursday, ICEJ leaders
will announce the uniting of top Christian and Jewish leaders and organizations
behind a global campaign launched by ICEJ last month to indict Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for incitement to commit genocide against Israel.
Some 60,000 Christians from 128 nations signed petitions that the ICEJ
presented to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon days before Ahmadinejad was to address the U.N. on Sept. 23.
presented to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon days before Ahmadinejad was to address the U.N. on Sept. 23.
“Christians today [sense] an inescapable moral duty to earnestly speak out
whenever another genocidal campaign threatens the Jewish people,” Hedding said
in September. “We are concerned that just such a genocidal campaign is taking
shape in the form of Iran’s repeated threats to eliminate the Jewish state and
its quest for the nuclear means to carry out these threats.”
whenever another genocidal campaign threatens the Jewish people,” Hedding said
in September. “We are concerned that just such a genocidal campaign is taking
shape in the form of Iran’s repeated threats to eliminate the Jewish state and
its quest for the nuclear means to carry out these threats.”
On Sunday, feast participants will visit the Sderot area, which has been an
ongoing target of Qassam rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, to dedicate
portable bomb shelters, or the city of Efrat to participate in interfaith
dialogue at the new Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation,
founded by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin.
ongoing target of Qassam rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, to dedicate
portable bomb shelters, or the city of Efrat to participate in interfaith
dialogue at the new Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation,
founded by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin.
In tandem with the ICEJ event, Messianic leaders Barry and Batya Segal,
founders of Vision for Israel, will mark the Feast of Tabernacles by hosting the
Succot Celebration this week. In addition to the Segals, speakers include Bible
teacher Lance Lambert, 24/7 prayer leader Tom Hess, Messianic
pastor Zvi Randelman and revivalist David Herzog.
Cheri Fuller and Cindy Lamb Curry 
Marilyn Hickey 
Charisma Staff 
