“Sukkah of light” in Jerusalem
The Jerusalem Minicipality, together with the Israel Electric Company, have initiated the construction of the “Sukkah of Light” - the biggest and most illuminated sukkah (literally booth) in the world - in Jerusalem's Safra Square. A million people are expected to visit Jerusalem during the Sukkot holiday and many will attend the holidays events in the sukkah.
The sukkah will be 30 meters long, 16 meters wide and 6 meters high, a total of 480 square meters. Aluminum profiles will support the walls, made up of 4 kilometers of light wiring - rubber tubes containing 144,000 mini light bulbs. Scenery inspired by the Old City walls, 6 meters high, will be placed at the entrance to the sukkah. The wall will be broken at one point, commemorating the fall of the temple.
The Jerusalem Municipality expects over 20,000 people to participate in the Jerusalem march, scheduled to take place on Monday, October 4th. The march will have two different walking routes, with 8,000 participants. Among the hikers will be 50 people who had organ transplants and 40 blind people, accompanied by seeing-eye dogs. The march will conclude with a festive parade in the streets of Jerusalem. Mayor Uri Lupolianski will receive the marchers in the “Sukkah of Light.”
Feast of Tabernacles 2004
September 28 - October 5
For the fourth year in a row, since the outbreak of the present Palestinian intifada terror campaign, the Christian Embassy is hosting the largest international solidarity mission to Israel, as Christians from nations across the world come in person to express their firm commitment to the Jewish state and its people.
Over 4,000 Christians from more than 80 nations will arrive in Jerusalem over the week to take part in the 25th ‘Silver Anniversary’ Christian celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. The international visitors will be joined by over 1,000 local Christians to celebrate the biblical Feast of Sukkot and to stand with the nation of Israel. An additional 2,000 Israelis are also expected to attend various Feast events.
Pilgrims come from many nations to worship, pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and to bless Israel in this time of regathering. For the first time, the celebrations will begin with a performance of “Thy Kingdom Come,” a musical guide for prayer, at the ancient Roman theatre in Bet She’an on Tuesday, September 28.
During the seven days of the Feast, a daily program of seminars and teaching is offered, concluding with evening worship. Special concerts and events are organized by the ICEJ for the people of Israel, which regularly attract hundreds of Israeli guests, including dignitaries.
Feast participants join the thousands of Israeli marchers during the Jerusalem March - a unique opportunity for international pilgrims to participate in a public event organized by the Jerusalem Municipality. Pilgrims don their national costumes and march through the heart of the city, displaying banners of love towards Israel.
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem was founded in Jerusalem in 1980 as a practical expression of the desire of Christian friends of Israel around the world. Today, the ICEJ acts as a global center of information for Christians on issues relevant to Israel. The Embassy coordinates special programs aimed at strengthening the bond between Israel and the Christians, building bridges between Jews and Arabs and initiating welfare projects for the citizens of Israel.
Acco Festival of Alternative Israeli Theater
October 2-5
Also celebrating its 25th anniversary during the Sukkot holiday is the Acco Festival of Alternative Israeli Theater. This year, the plays being presented in the festival framework will be accompanied by a series of events dedicated to co-existence, highlighting joint Jewish-Arab artistic expression.
The special events include:
- A joint exhibition about the encounter with the unknown, presented by 22 Israeli artists - Jews and Arabs - from the Galilee and Acco, entitled “Kelim Shluvim” (“Connected Vessels”).
- A performance by the "Safa Meshutefet” (“Common Language”) Workshop, which brings together Jewish and Arab storytellers, using the tradition of Indian Dance Theater. The subject of this year’s work is animal proverbs, dealing with issues such as friendship, animosity, war and peace and unintentional deeds.
- An upbeat dance theater performance by the Acco Street Theater Workshop for Arab and Jewish Youth, in which group of Arab and Jewish youth are waiting on the street for a donor from America.
- A marching band with the participation of the Acco Conservatory Orchestra and the orchestras of the Orthodox Christian Scouts and the Muslim Scouts, as well as teenagers from the Elem Association for Youth at Risk in Israel, who had never played a musical instrument before - a project sponsored during the past year by the British Council
Israeli and Arab artists will also perform together both pop and ethnic music.
The Abu Ghosh Vocal Music Festival
October 6-9
Twice each year - in October, during the holiday of Sukkot, and in May, during the holiday of Shavuot - the village of Abu Ghosh turns into a paradise for lovers of vocal music. Festival concerts are held in churches - the Crusader church and its crypt, and the Church of the Ark of the Covenant - which both have excellent acoustics, remarkable beauty, and a very special atmosphere. Concerts are also held outside in the lovely courtyard of the Church of the Ark of the Covenant, simultaneously at four locations. The vocal music concerts are of the highest quality, with a predominantly liturgical repertoire, and are performed by top-notch soloists, choirs, and orchestras from Israel and abroad, including rare pieces which receive their premiere in Israel at Abu Ghosh.
Most of the programs played during the Festival are from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. The Festival also serves as a highly respected and attractive venue for many artists and choirs from all over the world. Every year a large audience attends the event, comprised of music lovers of all ages; their presence turns the musical events in and around the churches, as well as the entire area, into a colorful and lively spectacle.
Over 1,000 singers and musicians will take part in this year's festival between October 6-9, the 26th gathering of the biannual festival.
Abu Ghosh is an Arab village located about ten minutes’ journey from Jerusalem, near the Jerusalem - Tel Aviv highway. Abu Ghosh has a fascinating history going back over 500 years, whose remains are still visible around the village. The village was built over the ruins of the biblical town of Kiryat Ye’arim. The Romans built a large fort here, above the spring, and later on the Crusaders established a monastery on the same site, which served both as a church and a military headquarters for many years. Festival concerts are held in this church, in the middle of the village, and in the Church of the Ark of the Covenant further up the hill.
Another fascinating feature of Abu Ghosh is the unique convergence of the three monotheistic faiths. The churches and monasteries stand near the mosque and in the midst of the local Muslim residents, creating a special atmosphere for the wide variety of visitors who stroll through the village during the Festival - Muslims, Jews, and Christians.
Haifa 20th International Film Festival "Neighbors"
September 30 - October 7
The 20th anniversary of the Haifa Film Festival is a landmark in Israeli culture. This year, as in previous ones, the festival is presenting a wide range of subjects and filmmakers. From a tribute to veteran director Sergio Leone, an exhibition of Federico Fellini's illustrations, to the fascinating British director Peter Greenaway, who will hold a master class within the festival.
This year's program puts a special emphasis on multi-culturality, a wide variety of films from all four corners of the globe. There will be a special focus on New Russian Cinema, and some of its important filmmakers will honor the festival with their presence. Films will range from the personal to the political, in our area and other conflict zones around the world. The Golden Anchor competition will offer a selection of films from the Mediterranean basin, Algeria, Tunisia, and a special day will be dedicated to New Palestinian Cinema and its filmmakers. A place of honor, as always, is reserved to Israeli cinema, which over the years increasingly enjoys its rightful place with the audience.