Foreigners join in, recreating Succot pilgrimage atmosphere and fulfilling 'biblical invitation.'
By ABE SELIGJerusalem March 224(photo credit: Abe Selig )
More than 35,000 people took part in the annual Jerusalem March on Wednesday, thronging the streets of the capital in celebration of Succot.
Despite forecasts of rainy conditions, more than 15,000 Israeli hikers from around the country made their way along one of three routes in the morning from the outskirts of the city toward Jerusalem's Gan Sacher, recreating the pilgrimage atmosphere from the days of the Temple.
The most robust of hikers made a 22-kilometer trek starting from the Castel, the site of the Independence War battle in Mevasseret Zion, while the easiest route was a five-kilometer walk from the Sherover Promenade.
Thousands of others began at lower Sataf for a 10-kilometer route that went through Nahal Sorek before climbing up the hills toward Hadassah Hospital. Those participants continued through the Ein Kerem neighborhood and then ascended the Jerusalem Forest before passing by Yad Vashem and Mt. Herzl.
At the end of the hikes at Gan Sacher, the participants were joined by some 20,000 more revelers for a festive Succot happening, including some 7,000 Christian friends of Israel from abroad who then took part in the last part of the day's events, a parade through the city center toward the Old City.
"These are Christians from all over the world that have responded to the biblical invitation to join the Jewish people during this festival of joy," said David Parsons, media director for the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, which holds week-long Feast of Tabernacles events during Succot.
Citing different verses of scripture shared by Jews and Christians alike, organizers pointed out that Succot is the time when the nations of the world are supposed to come to Jerusalem and celebrate with the Jewish people.
In that vein, biblical prophecy came alive on Wednesday, as the flags of countries from Norway to Kenya were seen blowing in the wind above the marchers.
While the prophecy is supposed to be fulfilled in the Messianic era when the various nations will bring sacrifices to a rebuilt Temple, many of the participants said they felt blessed to be in Jerusalem in any case, and to have the ability to take part in such a powerful showing of camaraderie.
"It doesn't hurt to practice," one participant said.
But according to Parsons, the march held larger overtones as well. Staunch supporters of Israel, the ICEJ submitted a petition to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon last month that called for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to be indicted for incitement to genocide before his appearance at the UN General Assembly, based on his previous statements that Israel be "wiped off the map."
"This is also a solidarity march to show that we stand with Israel, through thick and thin, against the Iranian Nuclear Threat," Parsons said.
The marchers voiced similar sentiments.
"We're here to encourage the people of Israel and to let them know that God has written his name on this land, and that politics cannot legislate God's word," said Knoxville, Tennessee resident Donna Strand, who had come to Israel with her group, Banot Tzion, to show their support.
"We're the best friends of Israel," said another woman, who was part of a contingent from Norway. "Christian Zionists are the best friends of Israel, and we're here today to show that we're proud of that."
A group of Chinese marchers, clamoring to talk to the press, told The Jerusalem Post that they were in fact Jews, and had come from various lost tribes that reside all over China.
"We are from the tribes of Judah, Binyamin, and Rueven," they said, through a translator. "And we have received a revelation from God to come to Israel. This is the land that God gave to Israel," they said, "And we pray for it every day."
Others said they had been coming to Israel for years, and that through their prayers, they knew it was the holiest place on earth.
"At a previous march, God told me that the shekel would become the most valuable currency in the world," another Norwegian woman said. "So I asked for a sign, because I wanted to open a bank account here, but I don't speak Hebrew, and I don't understand how the bank system works. A few minutes later, someone came up to me and put a Bank Leumi hat on my head, so I opened an account with Bank Leumi."
As they made their way from the park, a large crowd of Israelis lined the street to greet the marchers, cheering and waving as the various nationalities made their way past.
"Hello Germany!" One woman yelled with her kids. "Welcome to Israel, Canada!"
Ariel Leshem, an attorney whose family has lived in Jerusalem for seven generations, echoed many of the marchers' feelings.
"It's a fulfillment of the prophecy of Zachariah, chapter 14," he said. "It's amazing - you come to Israel and you can see the Bible unfolding before your very eyes. It's also the fulfillment of another prophecy," he continued. "Yehezkel, chapter 37 - 'Dry bones will come alive,' 70 years ago, we were at the gas chambers, 60 years ago we came alive, with the creation of the state, and now, we're waiting for the rest of the prophecy to be fulfilled, and we have to be patient. But the sooner we fulfill it, the sooner the rest of the world can enjoy."
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