For Christian evangelicals, a sort of Broadway on the Dead Sea's Israeli side - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Tue., October 02, 2007 ,

Israel Time: 03:14 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Print Edition

Diplomacy

Defense

Arts & Leisure

Real Estate

Jewish World

National

Advertising

Magazine

Week's End

Business

Opinion

Rosner's Domain

Anglo File

Books

Travel

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Last update - 21:55 28/09/2007

For Christian evangelicals, a sort of Broadway on the Dead Sea's Israeli side

By The Associated Press

The walls of Jericho came crashing down again at this spa resort on the Dead Sea, with all the bright lights and fanfare of a Broadway show.

Actors dressed in biblical garb blasting ram horns and riding camels re-enacted Joshua's siege of the ancient city for some 5,000 Christian pilgrims on Thursday, kicking off a weeklong demonstration of solidarity with Israel.

The performance at Ein Gedi, just a few kilometers south of Jericho itself, was part of a celebration marking the Feast of the Tabernacles, or Sukkot, a seven-day Jewish holiday during which the pilgrims believe the Old Testament invites all nations to come to Jerusalem.

	Advertisement

The crowd's excitement was palpable, with believers exclaiming hallelujah and blowing large ram horns, or shofars, throughout the show.

Organizers said that Christian tourism in the Holy Land reaches its peak during Sukkot, infusing an estimated $18 millio into the local economy.

Evangelical groups have forged a tight alliance with the Jewish state, and Israeli officials have welcomed the pilgrims for years. Israeli Orthodox rabbis have tolerated them but have become increasingly concerned they may have an ulterior motive: conversion of the Jews.

The Christian groups oppose territorial concessions to the Palestinians, who want to establish a state in areas Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War. Many Evangelicals believe Jews must return to the biblical Land of Israel to facilitate a Second Coming of Christ.

This year Israel's chief rabbinate banned Jewish participation in the festivities sponsored by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem over concerns that the foreigners may be proselytizing.

Many of the die-hard fans of Israel were upset by the decision.

"I've been coming here for 15 years, and I've never seen any proselytizing," said Larry Holder, who traveled from Murphy, North Carolina for the event. "There's been nothing pushy about it at all."

Others said they merely want to use the week to demonstrate their support.

"God asked us to bless the nation of Israel," said Donald Langford of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

The International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem has hosted Sukkot celebrations in Israel for 27 years. The embassy says that pilgrims have been instructed to refrain from missionary activity while in Israel.

"It's time for gentiles to repay their debt to the Jews," said Anthony Gibson of County Kildare, Ireland. "Without the Jews, he said, there would be no patriarchs, no prophets, no messiah, no salvation."

The weeklong festival will include a parade and a musical tribute to the 40th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, in addition to performances by Jewish cantor and Broadway actor Dudu Fisher.

Lollie De Manielle of Malmesbury, South Africa, said that her interest in Israel is not seeing the dead stones of archaeological sites.

"I'm more looking forward to meeting the living stones, the [Israeli] people."

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Lights out
	Electric company cancels emergency bond issue due to credit rating reduction fears.


	No free lunches
	Accountant General Zelekha demands VIPs pay taxes on their free medical benefits.




1.	The world would be a better place	22:29	\|	Axel	28/09/07

2.	fundamentalists	00:41	\|	John	29/09/07

3.	Christians` role	00:49	\|	Davids	29/09/07

4.	NOT JUST JEWS	01:37	\|	Arik Silverman	29/09/07

5.	Davids do you know what does the bible says? I doubt it!!!	01:41	\|	Ariel	29/09/07

6.	Salvation	03:13	\|	Messianic Gentile	29/09/07

7.	We could quote from the Book forever, but the fact is the same	07:15	\|	Denton	29/09/07

8.	Not good christians and they dont love the Jewish people	07:22	\|	Antony	29/09/07

9.	Christian Evangelicals	08:57	\|	Mark van Niekerk	29/09/07

10.	A little more complex than that, Antony	09:01	\|	Denton	29/09/07

11.	To axel from Germany:	09:23	\|	HS	29/09/07

12.	Solidarity with Israel	11:38	\|	Gina	29/09/07

13.	# 11 HS	13:28	\|	Axel	29/09/07

14.	Salvation	19:31	\|	Paul	29/09/07

15.	There are Israeli Christians!	19:37	\|	Paul	29/09/07

16.	Like Mosheh	21:26	\|	Paul	29/09/07

17.	The name Paul	21:28	\|	Paul	29/09/07

18.	Name one Christian country!	21:51	\|	Paul	29/09/07

19.	Mosheh`s grave!	21:56	\|	Paul	29/09/07

20.	WRONG! GOD Is Owed. ...Not Jews/Not Humans.	04:28	\|	Proud Pal Defender	30/09/07

21.	Salvation by Grace Alone...	02:37	\|	Christian	02/10/07

Today Online


	Bradley Burston: Bet on Israeli hawks to forge the peace
	Responses: 193


	Shlomo Avineri: The Law of Return is not the problem
	Responses: 129


	Israeli Arabs march in Umm al-Fahm to mark 2000 riots
	Responses: 192


	Israel releases 57 Palestinian prisoners from the West Bank
	Responses: 106


	Haaretz.TV / Israelis in the U.S.: Don't call us 'yordim'
	Responses: 63

Rosner's Domain

* American Jews are in great danger. Here's the proof

* Guest: Democratic candidates are "ok" on Israel, but not great

* WTR: Jewish condemnation for McCain's "Christian Nation"

* Poll: what will be the most difficult Israeli/Palestinian issue to overcome?

More Headlines
03:14 Crossing of 80 Hamas men to Gaza troubles Israel


01:26 GPO head: Death of Gazan aged 12 was staged


02:26 Assad: Syria won't attend fall summit if issue of Golan not addressed


19:51 State tells Court it backs evacuation of settlers from Hebron market


23:13 U.S. seeks to deport man accused of being former Nazi camp guard


23:32 Israel to release 30 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza on Tuesday


02:43 U.S. need not have spent $30 million on declassifying war criminal records


18:47 Livni to UN: Time has come to take action against Iran


20:13 Chelsea FC slams anti-Semitic taunts directed at Israeli manager


19:41 IDF, Border Police evacuate and dismantle two W. Bank outposts