This week, Israelis started celebrating the biblical festival ofSukkot. Also known as the Feast of Booths, this is when they build small huts in their yards or balconies, where they spend family time together remembering Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. But what makes this Jewish holiday truly unique is that thousands of Christians also have showed up in Jerusalem over recent days to join in marking Sukkot. Now this is in keeping with the ancient biblical tradition that the nations were also welcome to come join the Jewish in worshipping God at this appointed time. And the prophet Zechariah envisioned that one day all nations will ascend to Jerusalem each year to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. So for the past 35 years now, the International Christian Embassy, producer of this radio program, has hosted thousands of Christians at its annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration in Jerusalem in anticipation of that great day. So just what is the story behind the holiday of Sukkot? What are some of the traditions that have built up around this biblical festival of joy? And why are Christians from around the world also coming up to Jerusalem to keep this Feast? Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles!That’s our focus this week here on Front Page Jerusalem. We’ll look at the meaning and traditions surrounding the biblical holiday of Sukkot – also called the Feast of Booths. We’ll have a Bible teaching on this special festival by Dr. Juergen Buehler, the executive director of the Christian Embassy in Jerusalem. And we’ll also have an inside look at the Christian Embassy’s annual Feast celebration in Jerusalem with one of its key organizers, Ray Ramirez, leader of the Feast worship team.
On this week’s program, we’re focusing on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. Israelis are now marking this fall harvest festival, and all across the nation Israelis have built small huts or booths in their yards to recall God’s provision during the 40 long years of wanderings in the Wilderness. It is also a festive time of joy and what makes it extra special is that thousands of Christians are also coming up each year to Jerusalem to mark this biblical holiday. Sponsored by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, the Christian celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles is Israel’s largest annual tourist event. So we want to start out with some biblical insights on Sukkot from Dr. Juergen Buehler, the executive director of the Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, which produces this radio program. Here’s Juergen with more…
As Israelis were preparing for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot over recent days, thousands of Christians were also arriving in Jerusalem from all over the world to join in celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy. ICEJ international director Juha Ketola spoke with one of the key figures behind this gathering, Feast worship leader Ray Ramirez. So let’s go over to Jerusalem for an inside look at the Feast.
Join hosts Earl Cox, Ben Kinchlow and David Parsons for this week’s Front Page Jerusalem, on a radio station near you or visit our website to download the MP3 and to subscribe to program podcasts
Recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined other world leaders in New York for the Opening Assembly of the United Nations. And while dozens of heads of state addressed the annual gathering, most of their speeches were quickly forgotten. Yet Netanyahu’s remarks are still making waves worldwide, as he firmly defended the Jewish state, exposed its enemies, and laid out solutions to many of the Middle East’s chronic problems. For example, Netanyahu insisted that the radical Islamic threat to the West’s democratic values and freedoms is the same whether coming from Hamas or ISIS or al-Qaeda. He also spent time highlighting the even greater threat of Iran’s renegade nuclear program. Netanyahu also proposed a new framework for peace negotiations with the Palestinians by having Israel partner with key Sunni Arab governments like Egypt and Saudi Arabia to find a solution to the long-standing conflict. And he concluded by quoting from the prophet Isaiah and his vision that one day all nations will live in harmony and “learn war no more.” Bibi’s UN Speech! That’s our feature next week here on Front Page Jerusalem. We’ll bring you the recent address by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu at the Opening Assembly of the United Nations in New York. He was frank and powerful and astute in his assessment of the region and the world today, so it’s well worth visiting this speech once again.
Program Features
As Israelis were preparing for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot over recent days, thousands of Christians were also arriving in Jerusalem from all over the world to join in celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy. ICEJ international director Juha Ketola spoke with one of the key figures behind this gathering, Feast worship leader Ray Ramirez. So let’s go over to Jerusalem for an inside look at the Feast.
