By Angel Christopher
As Jewish Israelis prepare for the holiday of Sukkot, an estimated five thousand Christians from dozens of countries worldwide are preparing to travel to Israel on pilgrimage for the annual eight-day Feast of Tabernacles hosted by the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem (ICEJ).
The Feast, the largest Christian gathering in Israel, will be held from September 29 to October 6, culminating in a prayer vigil in Jerusalem and the iconic Parade of Nations. The first Feast took place in 1980 when the ICEJ opened its embassy, and it draws thousands of Christians from around the world in support of Israel.
Unfortunately, grupos of Christian visitors will hope to use their time in the Jewish state to engage in missionary activity. According to the Press, The ICEJ does its best to prevent this, warning its guests to refrain from such offensive behavior. Also ICEJ voicers emphasize that the ICEJ has never been involved in any attempts to proselytize in Israel.
This year, the Jewish holiday and concurrent Christian event come during heightened tensions in Jewish-Christian relations, which have been rising due to fears that Christians are intensifying their efforts to proselytize Israeli Jews. In March, a law was proposed in the Knesset by the United Torah Judaism alliance that would have criminalized missionizing in Israel. In August, several Christian organizations, including the ICEJ had their requests for clergy visas denied, inhibiting them from carrying out projects that benefit Israel. Several Jewish leaders came out in unequivocal support of the organizations. In the first three weeks of July, some 17 discriminatory acts against Christians were reported across Israel, reported by independent researcher and activist Yisca Harani. They included spitting, verbal abuse, vandalism, and stone-throwing.
La Fiesta de los Tabernáculos de ICEJ está bajo sospecha de proselitismo en Israel
Por Angel Christopher
Mientras los judíos israelíes se preparan para la festividad de Sucot, se estima que cinco mil cristianos de docenas de países de todo el mundo se están preparando para viajar a Israel en peregrinación para la Fiesta anual de ocho días de los Tabernáculos organizada por la Embajada Cristiana Internacional de Jerusalén (ICEJ).
La Fiesta, la reunión cristiana más grande de Israel, se llevará a cabo del 29 de septiembre al 6 de octubre y culminará con una vigilia de oración en Jerusalén y el icónico Desfile de las Naciones. La primera Fiesta tuvo lugar en 1980, cuando ICEJ abrió su embajada y atrae a miles de cristianos de todo el mundo en apoyo a Israel.
Desafortunadamente, grupos de visitantes cristianos esperan usar su tiempo en el estado judío para participar en actividades misioneras. Según la prensa, ICEJ hace todo lo posible para evitarlo y advierte a sus invitados que se abstengan de comportamientos tan ofensivos. También los voceros de ICEJ enfatizan que ICEJ nunca ha estado involucrado en ningún intento de hacer proselitismo en Israel.
