home | sitemap | donate | contact
Search | |
 The 28th annual Christian celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, kicked off Thursday evening along the shores of the Dead Sea with a record crowd of over 6,000 pilgrims from some 100 nations on hand for a colorful worship experience and moving biblical drama.The gathering drew the largest audience ever for the ICEJ's traditional opening of the Feast in a desert setting, a reminder of the ancient Israelites wanderings in the Wilderness. Brazil alone was represented by nearly 1200 Christians. This year's Feast attendance is expected to top well over 7,000, a new record for this largest annual tourist event in Israel. As the full moon rose over the Ein Gedi oasis, the palm-draped stage came alive with a variety of musical forms. Led off by a medley of Hebraic worship songs in honor of the host country, the program featured classical and contemporary styles, highlighted by a rousing performance from the Watoto Children's Choir, made up of Ugandan children left orphaned by the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Twice guests at the White House, the Watoto choir brought amazing color, rythmn and movement to the Feast launch, along with a message of hope from the children of going from the loss of their parents to finding God as their Father. Drawing on this year's Feast theme of "Blow a Trumpet in Zion," the program then featured a dramatic rendition of the Israelites conquering Jericho, complete with falling walls and Joshua and his men riding live camels through the midst of the audience.  "Make sure to keep the aisles clear," ICEJ Executive Director Malcolm Hedding had warned the audience in his opening greeting, hinting at the creative surprise ahead planned by music director Chuck King and the Feast worship team.Rev. Robert Stearns of Eagles Wings Ministry closed the evening with an appropriate message of sounding the trumpet of victory in our lives. The Feast now moves up to Jerusalem, with a gala opening in the city's main convention center slated for Saturday evening. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will deliver a video greeting to the Feast, while Tourism Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch and MK Benny Elon, an Orthodox rabbi and head of the Knesset Christian Allies' Caucus, will be on hand to also address the pilgrims. In light of the recent ruling by the Chief Rabbinate cautioning Jews from participating in the Feast, the Israeli leaders speaking at the Jerusalem opening say they want to send a strong message of welcome and solidarity to Israel's many Christian friends. Later in the week-long celebration, pilgrims will parade through the streets in national costumes in the traditional Jerusalem March at Succot, while the ICEJ will introduce its effort to place Lifeshield bomb shelters and reinforced bus stops in the embattled border town of Sderot. Jewish Broadway star Dudu Fisher will perform, while Rev. Jack Hayford, Aglow International president Jane Hansen and Arab Zionist leader Nonie Darwish are among the guest speakers. |
Print
Tell a friend