Over 1,500 Christians from 70 nations arriving for Feast of Tabernacles

By David Parsons, ICEJ Senior Vice President & Spokesman

Despite two years of war, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is expecting to welcome to Israel next week more than 1,500 Christians from over 70 nations for our annual Feast of Tabernacles gathering.

While fighting still rages in Gaza and Israel awaits news of a possible ceasefire, Christian visitors will be arriving in Jerusalem over the coming days to stand with the embattled nation and take part in the biblical festival of Succot. The ICEJ’s Feast 2025 will constitute the largest solidarity mission to Israel since the war began two years ago and will feature large delegations from Western countries that have been increasingly critical of Israel, including Norway, France, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

This year’s Feast runs from 6-10 October under the theme ‘Ten From Every Nation’ based on Zechariah 8:23. The Feast delegations will first tour the Gaza border area to witness first-hand how Israeli communities are working to recover from the October 7 terrorist invasion. There also will be a special remembrance ceremony at Sapir College to honor the 1,200 Israelis who fell and 251 who were taken hostage on October 7.  Our Feast Pilgrims will hear personal accounts from local community leaders about the tragic events on Simchat Torah in 2023. They also will visit key sites connected to the Hamas atrocities, including the Nova music festival site and the ‘car graveyard’ near Tkuma.

The rest of the Feast will be held in Jerusalem, including the popular Jerusalem March, which will take place in Sacher Park and end in a time of prayer at the Rose Garden overlooking the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

In addition, we will have a special solidarity evening with our Israeli friends featuring President Isaac Herzog, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, and Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka, as we honor the seven nations that have opened embassies in Jerusalem (United States, Guatemala, Paraguay, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea and Fiji).

“We are proud to be hosting at our Feast gathering the largest solidarity mission to Israel since the war began two years ago,” said ICEJ President Dr Jürgen Bühler. “These Christian pilgrims are coming here from all over the world to deliver in person a message of their unwavering support for Israel, especially at a time when global antisemitism is surging. We are especially excited about the large delegations coming from countries that have sadly turned against Israel in recent months, including from Norway, France, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Ireland.”

Remember, if you cannot join us in Jerusalem next week in person, you can still participate with the nations during the Feast of Tabernacles. We are offering access to the online Feast from the comfort of your home! If you have not registered yet, do so today and be part of what God is doing in Israel and among the nations!