Press Statement By: David Parsons, ICEJ Vice President & Senior Spokesman

This year’s week-long Feast of Tabernacles celebration, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, will conclude on Sunday (16 October) with a solidarity visit to Israeli communities living under constant rocket threat along the Gaza border area and a tree-planting ceremony with KKL/JNF to reflect the ICEJ’s commitment to the security and re-greening of the western Negev region.

The last day of the Feast will feature 1,000 Christians from some 50 nations around the world paying a solidarity visit to the Sha’ar HaNegev region. The program will highlight the ICEJ’s numerous assistance projects for Israeli towns and villages in the Gaza envelope, including 140 portable bomb shelters and two dozen fire-fighting vehicles donated over recent years to help these Israeli communities deal with the constant threat of rockets and arson balloons from Gaza. The ICEJ also is partnering with Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel (KKL/JNF) to plant protective hedges and re-forest burned areas in the Gaza periphery.

“We are very excited to end this year’s Feast with a solidarity rally alongside our Israeli friends who live and work and raise their families near the Gaza border with great courage and endurance,” said Dr. Bühler. “We especially want our Christian pilgrims to witness the incredible positive spirit emanating from these Israeli communities despite all they face. We know it will inspire our Feast participants to confront and overcome the many crises hitting their own lands in these unsettling days.”

The main event will be a solidarity rally and symbolic tree-planting ceremony in the courtyard of the Shaar HaNegev high school, located on the campus of Sapir College (Time: 10:00 AM). Ofir Libshtein, Mayor of the Shaar HaNegev Regional Council, former MK Shai Hermesh, and KKL/JNF officials Ronnie Vinnikov and Elisha Mizrahi will be among the speakers, while several Christian musical teams from the Feast will perform for the mixed Jewish-Christian audience.

A special VIP tour also will visit Kibbutz Kissufim to dedicate a new protective hedge sponsored by the ICEJ to prevent Gaza terror militias from having a direct line-of-sight into the roads and villages near the border. (The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 8:45 AM).

After the main event at Sapir College, the VIP tour will then visit a recently uncovered terror tunnel coming from Gaza. (Approximately 1:00 PM / This part of the VIP tour may not be open to the media).

FOR MORE INFORMATION, or to arrange transport to the rally and tour sites, please contact:
David Parsons

Feast Photos & Videos Uploaded Daily at:
https://www.feastgallery.icej.org/
Credit all Photos and Footage to: Courtesy ICEJ

Initial Feast Press Release Available at:
https://www.icej.org/blog/icej-expecting-to-host-over-2000-feast-pilgrims-during-week-of-succot/