Even though Israel faces war on seven fronts, Christians are coming to Jerusalem in a show of unity during the biblical Feast of Tabernacles, known in Israel as Sukkot.
Battling a fear of war and travel difficulty, given airline cancellations, Christians still came to Israel to participate in the special celebration.
They toured southern Israeli communities ravaged during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, heard from an Israel Defense Forces soldier, and on the fifth night of the feast, President Isaac Herzog welcomed them at Jerusalem’s Tower of David Museum.
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Herzog told the crowd, “In this time of so much grief, your gathering here says clearly and loudly: there is an answer to hatred, there is an answer to brutality, there is an answer to evil. Like so many Christian communities throughout the world, you have stood with the Jewish people in our hour of darkness.”
Despite the war, more than 500 Christians from some 50 nations came to stand with the Jewish people and say, “You are not alone.”
International Christian Embassy-Jerusalem Senior Spokesman David Parsons told CBN News, “It’s the largest solidarity mission to Israel since the war began on October 7, last year–and it’s a Christian solidarity mission.”
Parsons believes the message is clear.
“We want to tell the people of Israel that all these charges of genocide against them, all the accusations and people trying to shame them, or anyone who supports them, we’re going to stand here beside them, knowing they are fighting a just war in a moral way,” Parsons stated.
The ICEJ has held the annual celebrations since 1980, with thousands attending each year. Parsons, though, sees this year’s gathering as unique.
“This is a Gideon’s army. When the Lord told Gideon, (to) send the people home, he said if they’re afraid, go home. So, we have a high caliber of people of faith who have come here to make this statement of support for Israel,” Parsons declared.
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