WORD FROM JERUSALEM
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem was established in1980 in recognition of the biblical significance of all of Jerusalem and its unique connection to the Jewish people. Today the ICEJ represents millions of Christians, churches, and denominations to the nation and people of Israel. We recognize in the restoration of Israel the faithfulness of God to keep His ancient covenant with the Jewish people. Our main objectives are:
• To stand with Israel in support and friendship
• To equip and teach the worldwide church regarding God’s purposes with Israel and the nations of the Middle East
• To be an active voice of reconciliation between Jews, Christians, and Arabs, and to support the churches and congregations in the Holy Land
From its head offices in Jerusalem, the ICEJ reaches out into more than 170 countries worldwide, with branch offices in over 90 nations.
Our vision is:
• To reach every segment of Israel’s society with a Christian testimony of comfort and love
• To reach and actively represent to Israel the support of denominations, churches, and believers from every nation on Earth
The Christian Embassy is a non-denominational faith-based ministry supported by the voluntary contributions of our partners and friends across the globe. We invite you to join with us as we minister to Israel and the Jewish people worldwide by donating to the ongoing work and witness of the ICEJ.
WORD
FROM JERUSALEM
CREDITS
ICEJ President Dr. Juergen Buehler
USA Director Susan Michael
VP International Affairs Dr. Mojmir Kallus
VP Finance David van der Walt
VP Operations Barry R. Denison
Senior VP & International Spokesman David Parsons
VP AID & Aliyah Nicole Yoder
Managing Editor/Publications Director Laurina Driesse
USA Managing Editor Karen Engle
Staff Writer Anastasiya Gooding
Graphic Design/Illustrators Ryan Tsuen, Nancy Schimp
Photography Adobe Stock, Adobe Firefly, Shutterstock, AP, Flash90, JAFI, Dorron Kline-Telfed, iStock Annie Splatt on UnSplash, Operation Lifeshield ,Wikimedia, ICEJ Staff and Branches
The New King James Bible is used for all Bible references unless otherwise noted.
Word From Jerusalem is published by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Word From Jerusalem has no subscription price and is supported through contributions worldwide. The ICEJ USA Branch is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with offices in Tennessee, Florida, and Washington, DC. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible according to United States law.
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM - USA
Support our ministry online at: www.icejusa.org
FROM THE DESK OF THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Dear Friends,
As the ICEJ prepared over recent months for our Feast of Tabernacles in mid-October, we knew it would be different from our past Sukkot celebrations because of the prolonged war in Israel. Feast venues would need to be smaller, given the reduced numbers registered. Our speakers, musicians, volunteers, and pilgrims would have to persist in finding flights to Israel. Meanwhile, we designed a special Feast 2024 logo using the signature yellow ribbon of remembrance, knowing we would gather exactly one year after the October 7 mass terror attacks.
Then, two weeks before the Feast began on October 16, Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. Suddenly, every American and European airline stopped flying to Israel. How could the Feast go on?
Amazingly, nearly 500 Christians from 55 nations came to Jerusalem despite Israel’s seven-front war to participate in our Feast 2024. Many pressed past the warnings of family and friends not to come. Most had to rearrange flights—some three or four times—due to cancellations (and wound up paying two or three times the price for airline seats). But our Feast pilgrims were incredibly courageous and determined, and we could not be prouder of them. In fact, the ICEJ’s Feast 2024 was the largest solidarity mission to Israel since the war began last year!
Participants said they experienced a unique intimacy with the Lord and each other, which extended to the many Israelis they encountered. Several articles in this month’s magazine that recap the Feast talk about God’s strong presence, His special grace poured out the entire time, and unity felt by all. The articles are such an encouragement, and I encourage you to read them.
We ended this year’s Feast with a sense that the war has shifted. It is finally focused on the real source of violence and instability in the region—Iran—and Israel is well on its way to victory. As we approach a new year, we are hoping and praying that peace will soon return and Christians can again freely visit Israel and strengthen her people. We also are praying for the soon return of our president, Dr. Juergen Buehler, from medical leave and ask you to join us in asking the Lord for his complete healing.
Finally, our Global Prayer Gatherings (GPGs) haven’t stopped! Join us daily at 9:00 a.m. (EST) at www.icejusa.org/event-item-global-prayer-gathering/.
Shalom from Jerusalem,
Senior Vice President & International Spokesman International Christian Embassy Jerusalem
COVER PHOTO: Feast 2024 participants at the Knesset Menorah outside Israel's parliament building
FOR MAGAZINE ARCHIVES visit www.icejusa.org/wfj
DESPITE WAR, ICEJ HOSTS HUNDREDS OF CHRISTIANS AT MEMORABLE
BY LAURINA DRIESSE, ICEJ HEAD OF MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS & MARELINKE VAN DER RIET, ICEJ PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANT
Despite an entire year of war and widespread flight bans, nearly 500 Christians from 55 nations found their way to Jerusalem to take part in our Feast of Tabernacles 2024 in mid-October. They were undeterred by family and friends urging them not to come. They rearranged flights many times over to find a way in, and many ended up paying double the price or more for airline seats. Yet our Feast pilgrims showed amazing courage and determination, and they all deserve medals for coming.
In the end, because of their faith and
VISITING THE FRONT LINES
The Feast opened with a tour of the Gaza border area and a special remembrance ceremony at HaBsor National Park to honor the 1,200 Israelis who fell and the 250 taken hostage during the mass terror attack in that area on October 7 one year ago. The Christian visitors heard firsthand accounts from local community leaders and security officers about the tragic events last year. They also visited key sites connected to the Hamas atrocities, including the Nova music festival site, Kibbutz
perseverance, the ICEJ’s Feast 2024 was the largest solidarity mission to Israel since the war began last year!
The largest groups this year came from Germany (80+), South Africa (30), the United Kingdom (21), and the United States (21), plus another 50 nations—including Malaysia, Indonesia, and other countries with no relations with Israel. Even Iran, Israel’s greatest enemy, was represented by an Iranian-born American. Many pilgrims have been part of our daily Global Prayer Gathering (GPG) for the past year and answered the call to come pray before the Lord in the land of Israel (Zechariah 9:20–22).
Be’eri, and the “car graveyard,” to gain their own impressions on what took place there.
The pilgrims heard emotional testimonies from ordinary-people-turned-heroes on that “Black Shabbat.” Eshkol Regional Security Chief Ilan Isaacson recounted how he was so overwhelmed by the terrorist onslaught that he could not leave to help his own frightened daughter at their kibbutz several miles away. He added that special radio devices donated by the Christian Embassy were the only reliable means of communicating among security teams in the region and thus helped save many, many lives that day.
Nicole Carbone then described how she was on the phone with her mother in Kibbutz Be’eri
“My family, even my children, wanted to stop me, but I said, ‘No, I’m going,’” said Litiana from Fiji. “[I] wanted to be here to support and comfort the Jewish people … like Isaiah 40:1 says.”
“Getting to Israel wasn’t the difficult part; explaining to my family and friends why I was coming was,” explained Estelle from South Africa. “My son even arranged insurance for me before I left. But since 1990, I’ve come every year. Israel is my home.”
as it was being overrun by terrorists. Tragically, her mother was killed moments later, but her 85-year-old father, Alex, somehow survived. As he sat in the audience surrounded by some 400 Christians from around the world, Alex was overcome with tears of relief that people care for him and his community. “People like you are the angels who help us,” concluded Nicole.
“Coming here to connect with the real, personal stories was impactful,” said Denise from South Africa, who regularly attends ICEJ’s daily Global Prayer Gathering (GPG) online. “As a mother, what touched my heart was hearing how terrified mothers huddled together with their children and had to comfort and console them.”
“It means more to the Jewish people to come
Nicole Carbone embraces her father after a heartfelt message to the Feast delegates.
Denise, representing South Africa Guy, representing the United States
here in the middle of a war than to come when it is just fine,” said Guy from the United States who has been to several Feasts. “I cannot even imagine having neighbors and friends being killed or abducted.”
The remembrance ceremony ended with Feast pilgrims planting hundreds of red and yellow tulip bulbs in pots to remember a person who died or was abducted during the brutal Hamas pogrom. In partnership with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL–JNL), the ICEJ will replant the tulip bulbs at the new Nova memorial site so they can blossom in the shape of a red heart and yellow ribbon later this winter.
Feast pilgrims place tulip bulbs into pots at HaBsor on Day 1 of the Feast of Tabernacles.
DESERT ENCOUNTER
That evening, Feast delegates gathered at Kfar HaNokdim, an oasis resort in the Judean Desert, where revivalist Suzette Hattingh encouraged them to believe for God to touch their lives and also to deliver Israel in new and incredible ways not seen before, citing 1 Corinthians 2:9.
“You are here because God Almighty has an appointment with you,” Hattingh proclaimed. “You were sent with a purpose. God has brought you here like a ‘Gideon’s Army.’”
Opening night at Kfar HaNokdim in the Judean Desert
The worship team NORTHWORSHIP with Emanuel Roro leads the opening night of worship at Kfar HaNokdim.
“YOU ARE HERE BECAUSE GOD ALMIGHTY HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOU . . . YOU WERE SENT WITH A PURPOSE. GOD HAS BROUGHT YOU HERE LIKE A 'GIDEON’S ARMY.'” - Suzette Hattingh -
Norwegian
team NORTHWORSHIP
music
“WE WILL NEVER FORGET ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND HUMANITARIAN AID OVER THE PAST YEAR . . . THE STATE OF ISRAEL SEES YOU AS TRUE FRIENDS AND ALLIES.”
-
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz -
OPENING NIGHT IN JERUSALEM
The Feast then moved up to Jerusalem for the opening night in the Pavilion. The stage, adorned with sukkahs and palm branches, soon filled with attendees waving their respective nation’s flag in a show of support for Israel. The celebration kicked off with a performance by Shamayim (“heaven” in Hebrew), a delightful worship band and choir from Estonia consisting of three generations—grandparents, parents, and children. The Norwegian music team Northworship, led by new ICEJ Arise director Marius Wigardt, then led delegates in a special time of worship.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz delivered a video greeting to welcome the pilgrims and thank the ICEJ for all its relief aid during the prolonged conflict. “We will never forget all your efforts and humanitarian aid over the past year,” he said. “The State of Israel sees you as true friends and allies.”
Estonian worship band and choir
In his keynote message for the evening, ICEJ Senior Vice President and International Spokesman David Parsons expressed how proud he was of everyone who came to the Feast this year. Just moments before, news broke that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the October 7 massacres, had been eliminated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Rather than celebrating his death, however, Parsons asked those present to stand for a moment of silence in honor of the many Israeli victims of his cruelty.
Parsons then focused on this year’s Feast theme from Zechariah 4:6: “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord.” He noted the pattern for Israel’s restoration—even for today—which was set forth in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zechariah. He also explained that Zechariah saw kingdoms and powers as “horns” trying to uproot and scatter the Jews, but the Spirit of the Lord sent the antidote in the form of “craftsmen”—skilled artisans and warriors—to help Israel reclaim the land, build the house of the Lord, and restore right relationship with God (Zechariah 1:18–21).
TEACHINGS AND BRIEFINGS
The next morning delegates gleaned from Feast seminars, featuring excellent Bible teachings. T hey also received timely current affairs briefings by Israeli experts like former IDF spokesman Lt. Col (Ret) Jonathan Conricus, Israeli law professor Avi Bell, and geo-political analyst Dr. Dan Diker of the Joint Center for International Security Force Assistance (JCSFA). One memorable session involved the personal testimony of Ido Shamriz from the kibbutz Kfar Aza, who fought off terrorists for hours there on October 7. His brother, Alon, was abducted into Gaza, and though Alon managed to escape weeks later, was killed in a tragic “friendly fire” incident with nearby Israeli troops. Ido’s personal account of bravery and loss deeply impacted the audience.
Shamayim
David Parsons
The next day, pilgrims entered the serene Garden Tomb for a moving communion service. The Sakhnini Brothers, an Arab Christian family of gifted musicians from Nazareth, led a beautiful time of worship, while Israeli pastor Peter Tsukahira delivered a powerful message on Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11. A local Jewish believer and an Arab believer together oversaw the Lord’s Supper, a picture of the “one new man” Paul wrote of in Ephesians 2:15—an uplifting moment of reconciliation in Messiah amid the current war.
“This was the best Garden Tomb service ever,” insisted Jo from South Africa. “The message was brilliant and challenging, and the sharing of communion by the ‘One New Man’ was emotional and sincere.”
The Sakhnini Brothers, a band from Nazareth, leads worship at the Garden Tomb
ONE BODY OF MESSIAH YOUTH NIGHT
DTaking
ay four of the Feast featured a stirring Next Generation night back at the Pavilion in central Jerusalem, drawing together many Israeli youths alongside the Feast delegates. The atmosphere was charged as the popular Israeli band SOLU-Israel led everyone in Hebraic-style worship. SOLU leader Shilo Ben Hod was joined on stage by IDF soldier and TBN presenter Yair Pinto, who shared his experiences of both fighting and reporting in Gaza since October 7.
Marius Wigardt and the Northworship band followed with a rousing worship set and time of sharing from the Word. “When you experience the presence of God in the Land of Israel, it changes you,” he said.
“I’m very excited about tonight. From generation to generation, we must keep the faith,” responded Kristelle from Australia, who did not tell her family she was coming to Israel until after she arrived.
The popular ban SOLU-Israel leads worship at Youth Night during the Feast.
communion together at the Garden Tomb
Arab pastor Saleem Shalash and ICEJ VP Richard van der Beek embrace after taking communion.
IDF soldier and the TBN director of operations speaks at Youth Night
Peter Tsukahira
“ROLL CALL OF THE NATIONS”
As night fell on day five, the Tower of David provided a regal setting for the colorful “Roll Call of the Nations,” which was combined this year with the traditional Israeli Guest Night. The outdoor amphitheater was packed with over 700 Jews and Christians, the majestic walls of the Old City serving as a stunning backdrop for the flag procession that represented the more than 50 nations present at this year’s Feast.
Among the beaming flag-bearers was Annerie Mare from Namibia, a former Miss World contestant. “It was a very big moment,” she said afterward. “I represented my country in a new way, on a different stage. It was like an Esther moment—standing in the gap for my country.”
The program also included a video greeting from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who extended a warm holiday welcome to the Christian visitors and expressed his deep gratitude for their unwavering support of Israel at its darkest hour.
Nir Barkat, a senior Israeli cabinet minister, also
ICEJ Senior Vice President David Parsons addresses the delegation at the Israeli Guest Night.
addressed the gathering in person. “I think the ICEJ is one of the secrets of Israel’s success. I am here to salute you,” he said.
Another highlight was the warm remarks by legendary Israeli general Doron Almog, the new chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), an organization that oversees Aliyah to the Jewish homeland. Almog thanked participants for coming to Israel at such a turbulent time, when the country is fighting for its very existence, adding: “What brought you here at this time is your passionate love for Israel. You are our partners, our friends— and we love you.”
The evening also featured stirring musical performances by violinist Serguei Popov, singer Vesna Buehler, and the Estonian choir Shamayim. In addition, the interfaith gathering enjoyed several Israeli folk songs performed by the Israeli choir Or Lamishpachot (“Light for the Families”), whose members are bereaved family members whose loved ones have fallen while serving in the IDF. ICEJ’s David Parsons concluded the evening with a moving message regarding the sincere motivations
of Christians who support Israel. “Just as there is a mystery to why many are obsessed with hatred toward the Jewish people, there is also a mystery to the love we have for you as Christians,” he explained to the hundreds of Israeli guests on hand. “We see the deep wounds the Jewish people have suffered down through the ages, often in the name of Jesus. We see what was inflicted on you so wrongly on October 7, and it draws forth from within us a profound love that compels us to stand by your side. And Isaiah, your own prophet, assured you that you can trust this love,” he said, citing Isaiah 49:22–23.
The entire evening was marked by a palpable spirit of intimacy, unity, and grace, which was readily received by our Israeli guests after the past year of isolation and loss.
“It filled my heart with joy that you understand what happened with Israel,” said Zachi, an Israeli attendee. “It’s as if you’ve experienced everything with us—like it happened to you. It was heartwarming to see. Before coming, I didn’t know what to expect, but when I arrived, it felt like we were one.”
“I REPRESENTED MY COUNTRY IN A NEW WAY, ON A DIFFERENT STAGE. IT WAS LIKE AN ESTHER MOMENT—STANDING IN THE GAP FOR MY COUNTRY.” - Annerie Maré from Namibia -
Flag-bearers stand in solidarity representing their nations.
Former ICEJ International Director and Finnish Evangelist Juha Ketola speaks to participants at this year's Israeli Guest Night
The USA at the
The Israeli choir Or Lamishpachot (“Light for the Families”) performs Israeli folk songs.
TIsraeli guests at the Tower of David in Jerusalem
A SPECIAL JERUSALEM MARCH
he following afternoon, our delegates gathered for the ever-popular Jerusalem March. Although the traditional afternoon segment of the Jerusalem March had been canceled due to war restrictions, the city of Jerusalem invited our Christian pilgrims to march around Sacher Park with their national flags and engage with the thousands of Israelis gathered there for the usual Sukkot holiday activities. The atmosphere was festive, with national flags and banners flying high and songs filling the air in the packed park in central Jerusalem.
One Christian in the march stood out—Farnoosh Mazarei, a native of Iran who resides in America. Many Israelis who saw her carrying the former Iranian republic’s flag ran to meet her, while Israel’s largest daily newspaper carried a feature article on her visit and life story.
“I feel blessed that the Lord used me to represent my nation and to come and bless Israel,” she said. “I pray that my coming here by faith was pleasing to Him and that our prayers will start a revival in Iran.”
“During the march, all I heard was, ‘Thank you for coming! Thank you, thank you!’” added Linel from South Africa. “So many locals were in tears. … One woman gave me a sweet letter from her little brother thanking us for coming.”
The Jerusalem March ended at the Knesset Menorah, outside Israel’s parliament building, for a special time of prayer. It proved to be another highlight for Feast attendees, as they stood near the seat of government and prayed earnestly for the nation’s leaders to have wisdom in securing victory for their country in the current war.
USA contingency gathering the Jerusalem March
Farnoosh, representing the United States & Iran
Linel, representing South Africa
TThe Jerusalem March procession through Sacher Park
FINAL DAYS
he last two days of the Feast included a bus tour to engage in hands-on volunteer projects, a healing service conducted by Finnish evangelist Juha Ketola, the ICEJ’s former international director, a day of prayer with local and international pastors and ministry leaders, and a closing worship concert with SOLUIsrael. Rev. Suzette Hattingh was especially
powerful in her closing teaching on prayer and intercession birthed by the Holy Spirit.
This year’s Feast may have been smaller in size than usual, but it was greater in impact in many ways. This will always be the Feast marked by the yellow ribbon of remembrance—an intimate time of worship in the Spirit, fellowship with the saints, and friendship with the still recovering people of Israel.
SOLU-Israel closes the Feast 2024 with a special concert.
ATHOUGHTS ON THE
2024 ICEJ FEAST OF TABERNACLES
BY KAREN ENGLE, ICEJ USA MANAGING EDITOR
fter a long and fortunately uneventful flight from the West Coast of the United States to Tel Aviv in midOctober, I approached the checkpoint for those with foreign passports to enter Israel. The agent asked me several questions before returning my documents, but before letting me go said, “I have to ask a personal question. Why are you here? You know what’s going on right now, don’t you?”
Yes, I said to myself. Israel is surrounded by enemies on seven fronts who want her wiped from the face of the earth, and the head of the snake, Iran, fired hundreds of missiles toward the heart of the country just a few weeks ago.
But I answered her, “I’m here representing millions of Christians in the United States who can’t be here to tell you and the people of Israel you are not alone. We are praying for you and standing with you.” The agent had no words but only smiled and nodded, then tilted her head toward the exit to move me along.
I was just one of 500 other Christians from 55 nations also making their way to Israel— some rescheduling multiple canceled flights— to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot in Hebrew). Twenty other Americans also responded to God’s still small voice to be in the land “for such a time as this.” He had called each of us from our respective states to stand with Israel in her darkest hour, during this year’s Feast, to be living examples of Isaiah 40:1, which exhorts us to comfort God’s people.
T he comfort we brought often happened unexpectedly and without words while we participated in the Feast of Tabernacles events organized by the ICEJ. We traveled to a village in Israel’s south, where we heard from a young Israeli woman named Nicole who described how she was on the phone with her mother in Kibbutz Be’eri as it was being overrun by terrorists. Tragically, her mother was killed moments later, but her 85-year-old father, Alex, present in the audience, somehow survived. Nicole was visibly moved by our presence there, which affirmed to her and her father they are not alone.
We visited the Nova festival site and walked among the memorials, silently praying for each grieving family member and friend connected to the lives lost in the pictures. While taking in the extent of what happened there, we interacted with Israelis also visiting the site who saw our flags and asked why we were there: “You are not alone,” we replied.
We marched through Sacher Park in Jerusalem, packed for the Sukkot holiday, waving our American flags alongside 500 others with their nations’ respective flags, hugging Israelis along the way. Many onlookers were sobbing at the sight the hundreds of people who had come from the nations despite the war to speak love and comfort to them when they feel hated by the whole world.
And at this year’s unique Israeli Guest Night at the brightly lit Tower of David Pavillion,
we stood shoulder to shoulder with 700 Jews and Christians and watched the Roll Call of the Nations. This moving and colorful flag procession that included representatives from more than 50 countries—including the Iranian flag, carried boldly by American Iranian Farnoosh Mazarei—was a powerful statement of solidarity to all the Israelis watching.
But the best part of my recent time in Israel was interacting with the Jewish people as we wandered through shops, ordered at restaurants, or relaxed at the hotel in the evening. One night, as a group of us from several different nations walked through the bustling and brightly lit Mamilla Mall with our respective nations’ flags in hand, several people called out, “America! We love you!” to which we responded, “Israel! We love you! You are not alone!” Most times a conversation ensued. Sometimes the response was a solemn “Thank you.” And sometimes the response was a silent hug.
B efore I left for Israel, friends and family asked why I would risk going there during such a volatile time. My answer is the same as before I stepped off the plane in Tel Aviv, but now it contains even more conviction. I came to Israel to speak God’s love and comfort to a grieving nation.
But along the way, I learned a powerful lesson. Sometimes God calls us to verbalize His love. But sometimes a person’s presence speaks more powerfully than words ever could
ICEJ Managing Editor Karen Engle with American Iranian Farnoosh Mazarei on the ICEJ Feast of Tabernacles solidarity tour
ICEJ USA STAFF CELEBRATE SUKKOT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY
My husband, George, and I hosted a Feast watch party (where Feast of Tabernacles events are streamed from Jerusalem) along with a full spread of Middle Eastern food. About 15 friends attended our celebration, which proved to be a fun evening full of fascinating conversation about what the Feast of Tabernacles ( Sukkot in Hebrew) is and why it matters for people who are not Jewish. D r. Tricia Miller and Amy Zewe of CAMERA attended the celebration. Shelley Neese, president of the Jerusalem Connection, and her husband, Brian, brought their four teenagers who went swimming after dinner.
time to remember how the Israelites sheltered in the wilderness after they escaped slavery in Egypt. I also shared that it’s a time to celebrate the fall harvest. Most importantly, I shared how it’s a time to celebrate before the Lord in anticipation for the return of the Messiah and the wedding supper of the Lamb. Everyone was delighted to learn about Sukkot, and many said it spurred a desire to learn more about Jewish culture. A conversation about the current state of Israel ensued, and I was able to share about my recent trip to Israel and about the good work the ICEJ is doing.
Natalie Adams
ICEJ USA Director of Development
There is no way to fully describe the longlasting impressions and ripple effects that may come of having dinner with 27 members of our church family, friends, and neighbors under the sukkah we constructed
walked outside to find another set of neighbors and their boys practically waiting for us to sit down and eat. Our sukkah became like a bright light in the neighborhood, beckoning everyone to come and celebrate.
John Vedder
ICEJ USA Church Relations Coordinator
For our small Sukkot celebration, my husband and I cooked a typical Israeli meal, complete with falafel and pita. While family and our neighbors (who are like family) ate, I gave a short teaching on Sukkot, the importance of this Feast for Christians, and how it—together with all the feasts—paints a picture of God’s plan of salvation over all time. We talked about how Sukkot remembers when
ISusan Michael
ICEJ USA’s event coordinator, Allison Griffin, and her husband, Peter, joined the festivities too.
ICEJ USA President
made stuffed peppers as a symbol of plenty, and we featured a charcuterie of meats, cheeses, honey, olives, nuts, and more for
our Sukkot celebration. After filling our plates, we made our way outside to our sukkah, and I shared with our guests about how Sukkot is a
in the yard. After our meal under the open sky in our sukkah, I taught a lesson on the biblical Feast of Tabernacles, the Jewish understanding of it, and how we can participate with them during this special time of celebration. One friend messaged me afterward, saying, “It was a really special evening. We need more of this kind of thing in our culture.” The following evening, more friends and family joined us under the stars as we ate and spoke about God’s enduring love for Israel and the nations. Finally, on Sunday evening, we heated leftovers and
the children of Israel wandered the desert and how God’s presence was among them—but how that was merely a “shadow” of a coming day when Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives, defeat Israel’s enemies, and enter Jerusalem through the East Gate as Israel’s conquering King. Most importantly, we talked about how on that day, God’s presence will once again dwell among His people Israel like it did in the desert. It was simple enough for the kids but inspirational for the adults, and it brought a deeper understanding to this unique Feast on God’s calendar that is not just for the Jewish people.
Karen Engle ICEJ USA Managing Editor
DR. LINDA SMITH
ICEJ USA BOARD MEMBER
HONORED AS A CHRISTIAN WOMAN OF DISTINCTION
National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Executive Vice President Dr. Linda Smith and ICEJ USA Director Susan Michael, who presented Dr. Smith with the Christian Women of Distinction award
The annual She Leads America gala is a multiday event celebrating Christian women leaders. Held each year in Washington, DC, the event honors women who have advocated for traditional values, inspired others to stand up for biblical principles, and led the nation toward a renewed spiritual foundation.
Among the 2024 She Leads America Christian Women of Distinction was ICEJ USA board member and National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Executive Vice President Dr. Linda Smith, who was introduced by ICEJ USA Director Susan Michael, one of the 2023 honorees. Each honoree is presented with the award at the gala dinner and recognized at a congressional breakfast, and their name is written in the congressional record that day.
“Dr. Linda Smith is one of the most competent leaders I have had the privilege to work with. Everything she does is with excellence and a wonderful attitude of doing all for the glory of God. I was delighted to be a part of honoring her as the Christian Woman of Distinction she truly is,” Susan said.
Other women honored were Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) DC Bureau Chief Dana Ritter, FOX News anchor Harris Faulkner, pro-life leader Abby Johnson, Olympic gold medalist Chandra Cheeseborough, and space specialist Allyson Reneau.
GET TO KNOW YOUR ICEJ USA TEAM
PETER ECENROAD Graphic Designer and Website Development
When you peruse the ICEJ website or open an ICEJ brochure, you are seeing the work of our graphic designer, Peter Ecenroad. Peter has been with the ICEJ since 2003—first as a volunteer with ICEJ tours, fulltime in Jerusalem from 2012–2014, and now as the ICEJ USA Branch graphic designer and website developer. Though Peter is passionate about his design work, he says his favorite part of working with the ICEJ is praying together as a team.
In 1997 Peter received a full paid scholarship to the Art Institute of Philadelphia to study fine art, graphic design, and website development. Over the past two decades, he has blended his passion for the Bible, Israel, art, and website traffic to impact thousands of young adults.
At ICEJ, Peter monitors the website traffic for all seven ICEJ USA websites, maintains and expands them, and assists staff with their webpage needs. He ensures all our graphics and layouts are visually appealing and on-brand. But he also has a heart for young adults and connecting them with the Land of the Bible and has brought 53 young adult tour groups across 20 years to Israel. “I have always wanted the young adults to take away three things from our tours: be inspired to draw closer to God, have lots of fun, and see Israel and Judaism’s ‘true face’.”
Even though the October 7 attacks temporarily shut down the ICEJ USA young adult tours to Israel, he has been encouraged by the flood of website traffic from crowds of people wanting to stay engaged with the ICEJ’s advocacy work.
In his free time, he enjoys hiking and spending time with his family. His favorite verse is Psalm 27:4: “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.”
IN MEMORIUM OF
BETSY RIGELL
A FRIEND OF ISRAEL AND ICEJ SHOMER SOCIETY MEMBER
BY WIM VAN DER ZANDE
The ICEJ recently lost a dear friend, Betsy Rigell. Betsy loved Israel and had been to the Land with her husband Sid many times, bringing groups to Israel. When Sid passed away, she felt an urge to work as a volunteer at the ICEJ in Jerusalem, and her six children encouraged her to do so. She applied and was accepted to work with me in the mail department. The ICEJ staff loved her warm and open character and her heart for prayer.
I was privileged to work with Betsy, and we “clicked” right from the beginning. Agewise, Betsy could have been my mother—her oldest son, Creg, was a few weeks younger than me. Thus, I became her oldest “son” in Israel, and for many years, “Mother Betsy” and I worked side by side as the ICEJ mailing team. She loved distributing staff mail in their pigeonholes and putting stamps on the daily outgoing mail before we would drive it to the post office on Yaffa Street. “It’s such a privilege to be able to work in Jerusalem,” we often said to each other. Because parking was a recurrent problem, Betsy frequently prayed for a parking spot. If we couldn’t find one, I stayed in the car while she emptied our post office box inside.
Betsy was also a great help during the yearly Feast of Tabernacles. I oversaw all the translators who volunteered to help pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem from around the world receive the messages in their own language. Before each days’ events started, Betsy helped me distribute headsets and ensure each translator received a run sheet, the speakers’ speech text, and drinks during the sessions. Betsy loved that job and happily walked the long corridors back and forth, encouraging the translators throughout each day.
After working at ICEJ Jerusalem for about six years, Betsy returned to the United States.
But she continued to help with the Feast of Tabernacles until age made it too hard to continue. Throughout the years, Betsy and I stayed in touch by email until receiving the news from her son that God called her to her heavenly home.
Betsy inspired everyone, young and old, who met her. She was indeed a woman of valor and of blessed memory.
Even in her graduation to heaven, Betsy blessed Israel and left a loving legacy gift to the ICEJ, which is being used to help rebuild lives destroyed by the October 7 terrorist attack.
RIGELL ESTATE ESTABLISHING MUSIC THERAPY CENTER
Kibbutz Kfar Aza was one of the hardest-hit communities on October 7 and is facing severe communal and individual trauma. In response, the ICEJ is helping with a project to renovate a building in this kibbutz to establish a music complex that will serve as a meeting space for children, youth, young adults, and adults to provide open areas for various forms of music therapy. The project is funded in part by the Estate of the late Betsy Rigell, a longtime friend and supporter of the ICEJ.
Betsy Rigell with Wim van der Zande
HEROES & SURVIVORS OF OCTOBER 7
BY MARELINKE VAN DER RIET, ICEJ PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANT
Sapir Cohen, a dedicated 29-year-old police officer from Nir Oz, faced unimaginable adversity during the brutal Hamas assault on her kibbutz on October 7 last year. As chaos erupted around her, she displayed remarkable courage and quick thinking, prioritizing the safety of others even at great personal risk.
Amid blaring rocket sirens and gunfire all around, she directed her neighbors to safety and relayed critical information to fellow officers. However, Sapir was shot in the leg and severely injured. Yet through the pain, she never abandoned her post and continued shielding other residents. She was eventually taken hostage by Hamas militants and endured 55 days of captivity under harsh conditions in Gaza until she was released on November 30 as part of a ceasefire deal.
Sapir has since traveled near and far to tell her story of surviving the ordeal. It turns out she was not particularly religious, but a few months earlier, she had a foreboding sense that danger was ahead for her. She even went to doctors thinking she had a serious disease. Someone suggested reciting the book of Psalms to maintain her health, and she learned several by heart, especially Psalm 27. She was able to pray this psalm of David every day while in captivity, and it significantly strengthened her. Sapir credits this newfound faith in God for allowing her to survive and return home.
EDEN NIMRI
Eden Nimri, 22, was captain of an elite all-female IDF unit as well as a talented swimmer for the Israeli national team.
She tragically lost her life on October 7 while fighting against Hamas terrorists at the Nahal Oz military outpost right on the Gaza border.
When the sirens sounded that tragic morning, Eden swiftly led her team to a nearby bomb shelter. As terrorists tried to storm the shelter, she realized she was the only one of her fellow female soldiers who was armed. Thus, Eden positioned herself at the entrance and ordered her comrades to flee through a back entry. She opened fire on the first terrorist to enter but was quickly overwhelmed by several more Hamas militiamen armed with grenades and assault rifles. Yet eleven comrades reached another safe location because of her leadership and courage. Eden truly made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her fellow soldiers.
ORI MEGIDISH
Ori Megidish was a 19-yearold female “observer” soldier stationed at the Nahal Oz army base and tasked with monitoring movements along the nearby Gaza border security fence. During the Hamas assault on October 7, she was injured in the head, legs, and chest and then abducted, enduring 23 harrowing days in captivity. But on October 30 last year, she became the first hostage rescued by Israeli forces from Gaza. Her ordeal captured widespread attention and is a testimony to her family’s strong faith in God.
Before her rescue, Ori’s family brought a Torah scroll into their home and even into Ori’s bedroom and fervently prayed for divine
intervention. Her mother, in particular, cried out with tears before the Lord for her daughter’s return. Someone filmed this family’s prayers and acts of faith in the God of the Bible, and the footage later provided evidence that the Lord, indeed, was answering their pleas. Somehow, Ori managed to escape her captors and contact Israeli forces, who located her and brought her to safety in a daring operation in the heart of Gaza City amid intense battles.
ANER SHAPIRA
Aner Elyakim Shapira, 22 (Left), was tragically killed during the Hamas-led massacre at the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im on October 7 last year. Aner was an IDF Staff Sergeant in a Nahal Brigade reconnaissance unit but was off-duty and attending the outdoor music festival with close friends, including soon-to-be-hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin (Right), who was recently murdered in Gaza. Aner displayed extraordinary courage amid the brutal Hamas assault and managed to save many lives that day.
Though unarmed, Aner became a vital protector for about 30 Israelis who sought refuge in a cramped roadside bomb shelter. When terrorists began throwing grenades into the shelter, Aner bravely caught at least seven live grenades and tossed them back out before succumbing to the eighth. He had quickly instructed others to continue his efforts should he fall. A survivor of the attack later insisted that Aner “saved our lives” and deserved a medal of honor for being “an angel who guarded us.”
Counterclockwise from top: 1. Sapir Cohen (photo credit: Benjy Stoch, Jewish Report) 2. Eden Nimri (photo credit: IDF) 3. Ori Megidish with her parents (photo credit: Wikipedia) 4. Aner Shapira with his best friend, Hersh Goldberg-Polin (photo courtesy of Aner's family)
SAPIR COHEN
PARTNER WITH US IN 2025
ICEJ Vice President of AID & Aliyah Nicole Yoder at the groundbreaking ceremony to rebuild Kibbutz Be’eri
A TIME TO REBUILD
BY NICOLE YODER, ICEJ VICE PRESIDENT FOR AID & ALIYAH
Ayear has passed since the brutal Hamas pogrom against Israel on October 7 reminded us just how fragile life can be. In the days following, thousands of Israelis were evacuated from their devastated communities. That immense tragedy has changed Israel forever.
“October 7 forced our community to leave the kibbutz for the first time since it was established in 1946,” explained a recent update from Kibbutz Be’eri. “We were evacuees in our own land, forced to process the pain, despair, and anguish of that tragic day. Yet despite it all, it did not break our spirit. Today, we are determined to return to our homes, to rebuild what was destroyed, replant the fields set ablaze, and leave a flourishing kibbutz to our future generations.”
A recent bulletin from nearby Kfar Aza said their community was “built with the sweat of their brow, and with tears, love, and laughter into a flourishing green village full of life and the joy of children.” Since their emergency evacuation on October 8, it has taken a long while, but they have now gathered the strength to dream about going back home for good.
Unfortunately, the war is not over yet, and many Israelis feel it will not end until all the hostages return home. Still, we have been inspired by the selflessness, bravery, and generosity of Israelis from all walks of life. And among the Gaza border communities, we have encountered their incredible resilience and hope—and their strength and determination to return and rebuild.
“We thought our grandparents’ original mission to establish the eleven settlements on the Gaza periphery was completed, but it turns out we are only halfway there,” noted Ben Sochman, manager of Be’eri printing press. “Apparently, the entire Zionist story has yet to be finished. Now is our time to decide who we are. ... Will our names appear in the history books in 50 years as the second generation of founders? This is not an easy decision.”
“We are the generation of Netflix and espresso. It’s not easy to return from bourgeois life to the battlefield,” he added. “Each one will choose who they are and where they are going. Here in Kibbutz Be’eri, we do not intend to give up the land our grandparents bequeathed to us. We intend to turn this great fracture into a story of resurgence.”
At the ICEJ, we also intend to do our part! We have been walking alongside the communities of the western Negev for decades by providing bomb shelters and fire-fighting equipment, and over the past year by supplying emergency aid, trauma care, special radio devices, ambulances and ATVs, educational equipment, and activities for children.
Now a shift is underway as these evacuated communities are moving into temporary housing in host villages closer to home. The goal is to keep the kibbutz members together while their homes are rebuilt, with the hope of completing their return by 2026.
This presents a big challenge, as the war in
Gaza continues though at a lower intensity. Attention is now turning to the North, and Iran, allowing the rebuilding and renewal process in the western Negev to get underway.
The Christian Embassy is privileged to be a part of this ongoing story. While government funding will provide basic aid, large gaps are evident. The ICEJ is currently in discussions with several area kibbutzim to help bridge those gaps by rebuilding public facilities to meet recovery needs for the most vulnerable, such as activity centers for the elderly, children and young adults.
The goal is not simply to restore these communities back to where they were on October 6, 2023. Rather, they are also looking to the future. These battered communities must rebuild trust so that their people can come home, and hopefully new families will join them. Meanwhile, trauma care will be a central need for years to come.
The prophet Isaiah foresaw a day when “the sons of foreigners shall build up your walls” (Isaiah 60:10). Your gift toward rebuilding the destroyed Gaza border communities lets Israelis know they are not alone, enables their dreams of return to come true, and allows you to fulfill Bible prophecy. So please help with this process of rebuilding and renewal.
You can help with this process of rebuilding and renewal—donate today at:
Renderings illustrate the future of a rebuilt Kibbutz Be’eri.
(first-aid kits, two-way radios, etc.)
Home modification for injured soldiers and $500/home
civilians (ramps, handrails, etc.)
Bomb shelters
Community and music center renovation for $135,000
therapeutic care
Group therapy sessions for 32 children $7,860/month
Your Israel Answer
From Kristallnacht to Amsterdam: Rampant Antisemitism and a Call for Christians to Stand with Jewish Communities Today
By Dr. Susan Michael, ICEJ USA President
November 9 marked the anniversary of one of history’s darkest events: Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass,” which signaled the beginning of the Nazi onslaught against Europe’s Jews. On November 9-10, 1938, synagogues were torched, Jewish–owned businesses and homes were ransacked, and thousands of Jews were sent to concentration camps. The indifference or complicity of neighbors sent a chilling message: hatred against Jews was tolerated. Today, the rising tide of antisemitism in the United States and around the world makes us wonder if history is repeating itself.
The recent attack on Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam—a brutal mob assault that Dutch police seemed unprepared or unwilling to stop—is but one example of how antisemitism today is increasingly violent and unrestrained. Jewish communities are once again becoming targets, and as Christians, we cannot ignore this. Antisemitic incidents in America, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL’s) 2023 audit, have surged to record highs, underscoring an urgent need for action. Christians, who owe a great spiritual debt to the Jewish people, must speak out and stand with the Jewish people during these dangerous times.
The Terrifying Rise of Antisemitism Today
The recent mob violence in Amsterdam and record-breaking antisemitic incidents in the United States, especially on college campuses, paint a grim picture of what Jewish communities now face. The ADL reported a staggering 140% increase in antisemitic attacks, ranging from vandalism and harassment to physical assaults, targeting synagogues, schools, and individuals. This wave of hate extends beyond isolated incidents—it’s a pattern that recalls the path Germany followed in the late 1930s, culminating in the Holocaust.
Eyewitnesses to the recent assault on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam likened the violence to a “modern-day pogrom.” Hundreds of attackers stormed the streets, waving flags, hurling insults, and assaulting anyone who appeared to be Israeli. Victims described
desperate scenes as they hid in alleyways, fled to hotels, and tried to avoid taxis driven by accomplices who led them into ambushes. This horrific event serves as a sobering reminder of the extreme consequences of unchecked hatred.
Echoes of 1938 in America
While the violence may seem geographically distant, America has seen similar patterns of antisemitism. Over the last couple of years, a wave of attacks against Jewish students on some of our most prestigious college campuses, vandalized synagogues, and hateful slogans are frighteningly reminiscent of the hate-driven destruction of Kristallnacht.
Today, this violence cannot go unanswered. History itself highlights how easily antisemitism can gain a foothold with tragic consequences when society allows it. Antisemitism’s pervasiveness over millennia— from ancient Rome to medieval Europe, the pogroms of Russia, and the Holocaust—reveals a deeply ingrained prejudice that demands constant vigilance.
Why Christians Have a Moral Obligation
As Christians, our faith is inextricably tied to Israel and the Jewish people. We share a spiritual heritage and history with them. It was through the Jewish people that God gave us the Scriptures, the prophets, and even Christ Himself. The apostle Paul’s words in Romans 11 remind us that gentile Christians are “grafted” into the same “olive tree” as the Jewish people, urging us to support and cherish them. It is both a moral duty and a biblical command to protect and defend our Jewish neighbors.
Yet, this duty is not merely theological. It is a matter of human decency and responsibility. As the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), we are committed to combating antisemitism worldwide and standing with Israel, the Jewish State. We have long educated Christians on the historical roots of this antisemitic hatred, making
it clear that we cannot sit idly by while it resurges. When Jews are targeted in Israel, the United States, or anywhere else in the world, the very foundation of justice and human rights is at stake. History has shown that antisemitism is a bellwether of societal decay—when it takes root, it quickly spreads to threaten other groups, including Biblebelieving Christians.
Learning from the Past to Protect the Future
In the face of rising antisemitism, silence is complicity. Just as many German Christians remained passive during Kristallnacht, allowing hatred to escalate into genocide, those who stay silent today enable the forces of hatred to grow stronger. Jewish communities in America and around the world are pleading for allies, and we of all people must answer their call.
Some may argue that our country is different—that we value diversity and freedom. However, recent incidents show that America is not immune. With antisemitic violence at historic highs, American Christians are called to stand against this wave of hatred, advocating for our Jewish neighbors and working to prevent history from repeating itself.
A Call to Action
But practically speaking, what should we do? First, we must raise awareness and educate our communities about the dangers of antisemitism. Churches, Christian schools, and universities should engage with organizations like the ICEJ to educate on the historical roots and contemporary dangers of antisemitism. Understanding the magnitude of past atrocities like Kristallnacht can help us recognize the importance of taking a stand today.
Second, we must speak out against antisemitism wherever we encounter it. Social media platforms, workplaces, schools, college campuses, and churches must be spaces where antisemitic hatred is confronted. Each of us has a voice, and by raising it, we signal that this behavior has no place in the United States.
Finally, we must show up for the Jewish community, especially in times of crisis. Whether it’s by reaching out to your local synagogue, standing with them at rallies, speaking out to local, state, and federal officials, or simply sending a text to a Jewish friend to check on their well-being so they know they are not alone, these gestures convey that we are committed to standing with them.
Never Again Is Now!
Kristallnacht serves as a harrowing reminder of the destruction that unchecked antisemitism can wreak. The stories from Amsterdam, the statistics on rising antisemitic violence, and the lessons of the past compel us to act. In 2024, we have access to knowledge, resources, and platforms that allow us to raise our voices against antisemitic hatred. There are no excuses for inaction.
The Jewish people have endured unimaginable suffering throughout history, often abandoned by those who should have stood with them. Today, as Christians and as Americans, we have the chance to correct this wrong by standing firmly beside our Jewish brothers and sisters.
In the end, our actions must declare: Not in our country, not in our time, and never again.
COMING SOON! NAMES IN THE BIBLE
Meanings and Pronunciations Lost in Translation Only Hebrew Can Unveil
In this powerful new Bible study resource, you'll learn:
• More than 900 of what the author sees as the most important, common, or relevant names, including names of geographical places, people, various objects, and nations
• How to pronounce the given name correctly
• Where the name first appears in Scripture
• The basics behind biblical Hebrew
• Tips for getting the most out of the book
• And more
Calev Myer Israeli Lawyer
Pastor Saleem Shalash Nazareth
Dr. Juergen Buehler ICEJ President
Rev. Dr. Gerald McDermott Scholar and Anglican Priest