The ICEJ says that its visits-day Succot gathering is being held this year from September 29 to October 6
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem says it has welcomed to Israel some 3,000 Christians from more than 80 nations to attend its annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration. In a press statement, the spiritual organisation says that the variety of pilgrims for the festival this year includes national delegations from nearby countries such as Egypt and Turkey as well as a large delegation all the way from Fiji aboard a chartered flight of Fiji Airways, which will be making its first-ever landing in Israel.
The ICEJ says that its visits-day Succot gathering is being held this year from September 29 to October 6, and will take the Christian visitors on a pilgrimage through Israel, starting with two evening concerts at En Gev on the Sea of Galilee, then up to Jerusalem for six days of exciting events, including the colourful Roll Call of the Nations and the ever-popular Jerusalem March, plus a solidarity visit to the western Negev.
Jürgen Bühler
“We are privileged again to welcome the nations to Jerusalem for Succot, according to the ancient vision of the Hebrew prophet Zechariah. We trust that as they encounter Israel up close, that they will return to their home countries with a deeper love for this nation and a fresh inspiration from God, in keeping with Isaiah’s prophecy that the word of the Lord will go forth from Jerusalem,” says ICEJ President Jürgen Bühler.
The statement adds that among this year’s attendees are Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Viliame R Gavoka, who is leading his government’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem next year, along with cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, and dignitaries from many other countries around the world. The roster of prominent Christian leaders coming in includes Billy Wilson, president of Oral Roberts University, and Enoch Adeboye from Nigeria, who is the pastor of the largest church in Africa.
The featured speakers at the Feast will include Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel and Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, while President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will deliver recorded greetings to the gathering.
Another special Israeli guest speaker will be retired Brigadier General Avigdor Kahalani of Israeli Defence Forces, who will appear on Israeli Guest Night as the Feast marks the 50th Anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. The statement adds that this traditional Feast event also will feature performances by musical artists from Israel and around the world in a joyous multi-cultural atmosphere and strong show of Christian support for Israel.
The statement adds that musical performances at Feast 2023 will feature a wide variety of local and international singers, musicians and dance troupes from Brazil, Fiji, Germany, Ivory Coast, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Sweden, an Israeli-Ukrainian klezmer band, a popular Israeli Arab vocalist and an Iranian-born singer who will perform songs in Persian.
As the Feast winds up, the ICEJ will take hundreds of Christians to the Sha’ar HaNegev region for a solidarity gathering with local Israeli communities along the Gaza border, followed by a special ceremony in the Be’eri Forest to dedicate the new “Christian Embassy Nature Park.” The new park is a special project the ICEJ has undertaken in partnership with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund to re-plant a 126-acre section of the forest burned in recent years by aerial arson attacks from Gaza.
Besides the scores of pilgrims attending the Feast in person, tens of thousands of other Christians will join the Feast through global broadcasts on various television channels, as well as the ICEJ’s special online streaming platform.
