Dear Friends,

The biblical Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, begins tonight, the 15th day of the month of Tishrei according to the biblical calendar. Sukkot (Hebrew for tabernacles) is one of a number of holidays described in Leviticus 23, including Passover, Shavuot (Pentecost), Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.

Tabernacles is a joyous eight-day festival of thanksgiving observed by Jews worldwide in remembrance of God's protection and provision for the Israelites during their forty years in the desert. The holiday is referred to as "the season of our joy" because according to Deut. 16:11-15 and Lev. 23:39-43, those who observe Sukkot do so with rejoicing. The feast is marked by family get-togethers with food served in a sukkah, which is a temporary structure built in remembrance of shelters used by the Israelites as they traveled through the wilderness. 

Of all the biblical holidays the Jewish people faithfully observe, Tabernacles is unique. This is because it is the only festival that is also to be celebrated by people from all the nations who will go up to Jerusalem every year to keep the Feast (Zechariah 14:16). Therefore, it is entirely appropriate for Christians to join their Jewish brethren in celebrating Sukkot.

The Feast of Tabernacles is immediately followed by the holiday of Simchat Torah, which literally means "rejoicing of the Torah." This joyous day is observed by dancing with Torah scrolls held high in celebration of the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of the next.  

It was on Simchat Torah last year that Hamas terrorists planned their genocidal attack on the people of Israel. They carried out brutal and sadistic murders of 1,200 people, wounded thousands more, and took over 250 hostages to Gaza - men, women, children and elderly. Thankfully, many of the hostages have been rescued or released in trade for terrorists held in Israeli prisons. However, there are still 101 people - including two young boys - held in horrific conditions in tunnels deep underground. The status of as many as half of these precious human beings is currently unknown.

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As a result, this year's festivals of Sukkot and Simchat Torah will be observed by a people painfully aware they are still missing 101 of their family members. The holidays will also take place under the shadow of the ongoing war Israel has been forced to fight with Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as regular attacks by the Houthis in Yemen and terrorists in Judea, Samaria, Syria and Iraq.

In the very near future, it appears Israel will also be facing war with Iran - the head of all the terrorist organizations aligned against Israel. Since Iran fired over 300 missiles, rockets and drones at Israel in April and almost 200 ballistic missiles just two weeks ago, Israel is forced to determine how best to eliminate Iran's capabilities to barrage its population with weapons intended to kill as many of its citizens as possible.

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The Jewish people are literally under fire on a daily basis in Israel. However, they are also under assault worldwide by an ever-increasing, irrational and vile hatred of Jews, otherwise known as antisemitism. In such a time as this, we must not be complacent, and we must not be afraid to take a stand! Indeed, we must resolve to oppose the oldest hatred and its equally evil twin, opposition to the Jewish State.  

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Here are two ways to let your voice be heard!
Sign these important and timely statements
issued by organizations making a strategic difference
on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people:

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American Christian Leaders for Israel, an umbrella network representing tens of millions of American Christians by providing a unified voice of truth in support of Israel and the Jewish people, is collecting signatures on a letter to be presented to both presidential candidates outlining positions the next administration should uphold concerning six critical issues in relation to Israel. Go HERE to read the letter in its entirety and add your name! This letter will be sent to former President Trump and Vice President Harris on Friday, October 18, so sign the letter today!
 

Eagles' Wings, under the leadership of Bishop Robert Stearns, has issued The Bonhoeffer Declaration, which offers you the opportunity to declare your commitment to reject all forms of antisemitism or hatred of Jews, which ultimately is the foundation of opposition to the Jewish State as well. The Declaration states that, "In the spirit of Dietrich Bonhoeffer...we believe that combating antisemitism requires more than pious phrases: it requires serious commitments." To read more about those commitments and to sign the Declaration, go HERE.

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Calling all SW Floridians! 
Make a public stand in Naples FL 
Monday, November 18
7:00 PM
Jewish Federation of Greater Naples
4720 Pine Ridge Road
 

Join fellow Christians and Jews as we gather together for a unique opportunity to learn about another form of warfare against Israel - South Africa's lawfare against the Jewish State.

We will be privileged to hear from Rev. Malcolm Hedding, an internationally recognized leader and teacher on Israel and the church who is also South African. He therefore has unique and important insights into the implications of South Africa's efforts to demonize Israel on the world stage. 

It is important to know that the lawfare waged by South Africa against Israel is not just relevant to South Africa! Rather, it is a dangerous form of war with significant worldwide implications in the fight for Israel's legitimacy. Therefore, an understanding of what South Africa has done against the Jewish State on an international level has very real applications for all of us as we work together to counter Jew-hatred locally.

You will leave this event equipped to be an even more effective advocate for Israel. You will also be encouraged and strengthened by spending time with like-minded people who are ready to stand together against every manifestation of Jew-hatred and anti-Zionism in Naples and beyond.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from this internationally recognized leader! 
 

 REGISTER NOW!