over the future of the Jewish state, a Christian organization said.
4,000 Christians from over 70 nations prepared Saturday, October 22, for their final events during the Jewish Feast of Tabernacle, which was aimed to show support for Israel, said the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), which organized the gatherings.
"Avraham Hirchson, Israel’s minister of tourism spoke to the feast participants about the history of their steady commitment to Israel during troubled times. He presented a plaque to the ICEJ on behalf of the Israeli government to thank them for their solidarity towards Israel," the organization said in a statement.
The ceremony took place last week during an outdoor opening night celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles at Sultan’s Pool, below the Old City walls, which was also attended by 2,000 Israeli guests, the ICEJ said.
ICEJ Executive Malcolm Hedding told Hirchson that the attendees "were only a small portion of hundreds of thousands of Christians around the world standing with Israel," according to published remarks obtained by BosNewsLife.
CHIDREN CHOIR
A local Israeli children’s choir joined a ‘worship team’ in singing "There Can be Miracles When You Believe," and a special audio-visual presentation also highlighted the last 25 years of the activities of ICEJ, which includes evangelical Christians supporting Israel.
The Christian delegates also honored over 150 Israelis who were evacuated from the Gaza
Strip in August, who were welcomed by dancers and singers celebrating with traditional Hebrew songs, the ICEJ said.
Their withdrawal of the Gaza Strip has lead to a debate among Christians with some saying the move was wrong, while others claim it was the only way forward towards peace with Palestinians demanding an own state.
"FAITHFULNESS"
"We appreciate your faithfulness to the Word of God. You paid a high price for your beliefs. You have been uprooted, your values have been disrespected, and your children have been taken from their normal environments," said Hedding, ICEJ’s executive director.
The ICEJ also announced the opening of a $1.3 million new, state-of-the-art therapeutic swimming pool to serve all Israeli handicapped children of the municipality of Ashkelon and the Israel Insurance Institute.
German ICEJ supporters initiated a donation drive for the pool in 2001 and eventually collected more than 500,000 euros for the project, the ICEJ said. "The strength of a society is measured by the way they deal with the weakest and most vulnerable members," Hedding added. "The social commitment of the school is an example to us all." (With BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos and reports from Israel).
