ICEJ USA Staff Celebrate Sukkot with Friends and Family

By ICEJ USA Staff

“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. Dr. 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. ICEJ USA’s event coordinator, Allison Griffin, and her husband, Peter, joined the festivities too.”

—Susan Michael, ICEJ USA President

“I 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 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 long-lasting 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 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 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 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