Over 5,000 Christian pilgrims from more than 80 nations gathered in Jerusalem in early October to attend the 30th annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. They came in spite of the global economic downturn, and though many travelled long distances and had to overcome difficult trials in their home countries in order to make it, they were determined to come worship and pray in Jerusalem and to express their support for the Jewish people. Their outpouring of love and concern was well received, as Israelis openly welcomed the warm embrace at a time when the nation is once again beset by hostile efforts to isolate and delegitimize the Jewish State.

The week-long festivities started off once again at Ein Gedi, along the shores of the Dead Sea, with a live recording of a spectacular worship concert led by Paul Wilbur and also featuring special guest artist Ana Paula Valadão from Brazil. The lyrics were full of scriptural exhortations for both Israel and the nations, while the fusion of musical styles varied from Hebraic to jazz rhythms. The hour-long performance of Wilbur’s latest songs is set for release early next year.

From the very outset of the Feast, it was clear the pilgrims had come to rejoice in the Lord and to pursue God’s purposes for Israel in our day. Standing in line for the Ein Gedi meal, Nena Benigno from the Philippines explained how she had come in spite of the tremendous damage back home in Manila wrought by Typhoon Ketsana. Just days before, she had been caught in the horrific deluge.

“In 15 minutes the water was up to my waist, I was trapped in a drugstore, I couldn’t go home”, she recalled. Knowing that another typhoon was expected to hit that very night back home, she said she had come to Israel anyway to fast and pray for her country. “God especially answers prayers in Jerusalem”, she insisted.

Her companion, Ruth Castro, was attired in a beautiful dress and nice shoes, but no one would have known they had been borrowed, since she had just lost everything in the powerful tropical storm. Her home, her business, her car, her grand piano, her antique furniture – they were all in ruins. Yet she was praising God for still being alive and able to visit the Holy Land and learn the truth about what is happening here. “I am convinced that this is a miracle from heaven”, she said, radiating faith.

The Feast then moved up to Jerusalem for the gala Opening Night and traditional roll call of the nations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cabinet minister Yuli Edelstein were the first of several Israeli dignitaries to bring greetings to their Christian friends.

By the time of the popular Jerusalem March several days later, the Israeli media were eager to report the stories of the courageous Filipinos and many of the other Christian pilgrims proudly parading through the streets.

The delegations from Venezuela and Bolivia were of particular interest, since the Marxist-leaning governments in both of these South American countries have recently broken off diplomatic relations with Israel and forged closer ties to the radical regime in Iran. "We are not Chávez!" the Venezuelan pilgrims assured Israelis, in reference to their country’s maverick president Hugo Chávez, a close ally of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

“The hope and desire of all of us Venezuelans here at the Feast is to show Israel in a practical and spiritual way that we love them and that they are not alone”, one Venezuelan pastor told the Hebrew daily Ma’ariv.

Meanwhile, Pastor Alberto Magno Sales de Oliveira, the national director for ICEJ-Bolivia, led a colourful delegation that brought not only a message of solidarity with Israel, but also a special financial gift for the nation. Since his first visit to Jerusalem in 1999, Pastor Alberto has held a “Shabbat” service in his growing congregation every Friday evening to teach and pray about Israel, and each week he takes up a special collection to “bless” the Jewish people through the ICEJ.

"I concluded that the church had a debt to the Jewish people for so many blessings, prophecies, promises, the Bible and the Saviour, because God said that He would use this nation to bless all the nations of the world”, he said. “Today, more than 18 churches participate in this offering and the Shabbat service is the most attended of all our meetings.”

Bolivia is considered the poorest country in Latin America, yet Pastor Alberto beams that his church and community are prospering because of their support for Israel.

It was this kind of commitment and care for the Jewish people and their restored homeland by our pilgrims that truly marked the 30th annual celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.


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