Joy, surprises, and spirit: 'Israel Night' shines at ICEJ Feast of Tabernacles celebration in Jerusalem

The dedicated “Israel Night” at this year’s International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) gathering for the Feast of Tabernacles was surprisingly healing.

Tears of joy and relief came unexpectedly as crowds representing 71 countries around the world all burst into rejoicing, enthusiastically waving flags like some kind of redeemed Eurovision song contest. Waves of kindness and love rippled out from the gathered nations, a phenomenon that was surely not lost on the Israelis who were there.

The ‘Roll Call of the Nations’, in which the flags of each nation are displayed on stage, was a real highlight. To some surprise and the sound of great cheers, the flags of Iran and Lebanon were both part of this year’s procession. It was a huge, loud, and colorful outpouring of love – a powerful antidote to the heavy hatred that Israelis have been subjected to for so long.

It was a big night with some equally big names, including Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, and MK Ohad Tal. Ambassadors from the seven countries that had moved their embassies to Jerusalem were also in attendance, with the exception of Mike Huckabee, who was barred from speaking at public events due to the government shutdown in the U.S. 

Herzog greeted the crowd with a warm welcome, saying, “You are all lovers of Zion, who have gathered here today for more than 70 nations here in Jerusalem, city of prayer, city of peace, city of God, whose name means peace.” 

The president also noted the presence of the Lischinsky family, who suffered the terrible loss of their son Yaron, murdered in Washington, D.C. along with his soon-to- be fiancée, Sarah Milgrim. The couple were Israeli diplomats, working towards peace and bridge building, but were gunned down by a man shouting “Free Palestine.”

Herzog highlighted the significant time of the convocation, as so many are choosing to align with or against Israel, and at the very time that peace was being negotiated.

“Do you know you have gathered here at a very decisive moment. You, lovers of Zion, have arrived here at a crossroads in which the choice for blessing or curse, for life and liberty or death and destruction, is laid out for us. Your love for Israel is not new. For decades, your embassy in Jerusalem, the ICEJ, has been a global voice of Christian friendship, solidarity and action for Israel. When others left Jerusalem, you came and said like Abraham, 'Hineini! We are here!'" 

“In our darkest hour, exactly two years ago, on October 7, you stepped forward with courage and resilience,” he added, “to come to the aid of the people of Israel, in the land of Israel, and your caring reached so many and did so much good. Thank you, thank you,” said the president.

Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka gave a speech representing the country that had most recently relocated to Israel’s capital, joining the United States, Guatemala, Paraguay, Honduras, Kosovo, and Papua New Guinea.

“This is more than diplomacy. This is faith. This is conviction, and this is courage,” Gavoka said of their decisions to move their embassies. He told the crowd that Prime Minister Netanyahu had welcomed him on the first day, citing the biblical mandate to consider the stranger as part of the house of Israel. He said in response, “By embracing our presence, we are now part of you. We are one in purpose, in faith, and in the celebration of God's eternal governance.” 

Speaking of his own Christian nation, he said, “Fiji may be small, but we are strong in spirit. We stand unashamedly with Israel. We stand unshakeably on the word of God.” He continued, “The islands are singing the praises of the Lord here in Jerusalem.”

ICEJ's Senior Vice President, David Parsons, talked about the work that the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem has done to encourage countries to move their embassies to Israel’s capital. “The ICEJ has consistently advocated worldwide for the nations to return their embassies to Jerusalem,” he said. “As a result, the Christian embassy has been significantly involved in the decisions of at least four of the seven nations that have placed their embassies in Jerusalem.”

He shared how ICEJ had delivered a strategy paper on moving the American embassy early in Trump’s first administration, and had helped write the initial draft of the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which was overwhelmingly passed by the U.S. Congress in 1995.

Time was dedicated to honoring not only the attending ambassadors but also the Lischinsky family in their sorrow. The whole auditorium rose to stand with them in solidarity. 

The ICEJ “Nehemiah Award” recognizing support for Israel and the Jewish people, was presented to Malcolm Hedding. Having started as chaplain to ICEJ, Hedding later became the executive director, serving with the organization from 1981-2011. Over his lifetime, he has made an enormous impact, helping believers across the world grapple with what it means to stand with Israel theologically and practically.

It was a deeply significant event held at a critical moment for Israel. As Herzog told the gathering,

“Here and now, at this very moment, President Trump has put forward a comprehensive plan for an end to the war, the release of all of our hostages, and given a horizon of hope for peace in this region.”

Having quoted Psalm 34:14, “Seek peace and pursue it,” he commended the negotiations teams in Egypt, saying, “I pray they will broker a deal as soon as possible that will bring our sons and daughter, from Hell, back home.”

The very next morning, it looked like that prayer, the prayer of so many, might be answered in just a few days’ time.

Herzog thanked ICEJ president Dr. Juergen Buehler, commended the excellence of the ICEJ team and expressed appreciation for Christian Zionist communities across the globe, adding, “I want to thank you – each of you who have made this pilgrimage of body, heart, and spirit to Israel. And those joining us now from around the world.”

He ended his speech with the words, “May God bless you for blessing Israel. May He bless Jerusalem. May He bring our hostages home, as soon as possible. And may He spread His tabernacle, His canopy, His sukkah of peace, over all who love this land. Thank you.”

The ICEJ Feast event has been held each Sukkot since 1980, inspired by the biblical prophecy in Zechariah 14:

“Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths” (Zechariah 14:16).

With God’s help, the Feast of Tabernacles may also become the anniversary of the return of the hostages on Monday, Simchat Torah – the very day in the Jewish calendar on which they were taken. 

Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, has become an extremely sensitive season for Israel as the anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre, and the profound expression of love from the nations has been greatly appreciated. 

The timing could not have been better.