“Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.” – Isaiah 40:1-2

At a time when Israel feels more alone than she has in decades, merely showing up can speak volumes.

With Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, set to begin this evening, Christians from all over the world are doing more than that. They have come to actively comfort the Jewish state.

This year’s Christian festivities marking Sukkot will be much smaller than usual given the security concerns and the lack of available flights to Israel.

David Parsons, vice president and spokesman for the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, said over 400 participants from 50 nations would take part in the ICEJ’s event this year. In a typical year, the ICEJ hosts thousands for Sukkot at Jerusalem’s largest indoor venue.

While fewer in number, these Christians still intend to make a big impact.

The ICEJ Feast tour begins this afternoon near the site of the Nova Music Festival massacre, where the Christians will pot hundreds of red and yellow tulip bulbs in memory of the fallen and abducted, which will be planted at the new Nova memorial site and blossom this winter in the shape of a red heart and yellow ribbon (see above image).

“The Feast of Tabernacles is traditionally a holiday of joy, but given the ongoing war and the immense tragedy that struck Israel one year ago, we have a duty to begin this year with a solemn remembrance gathering in the western Negev area hit so hard last October 7,” said Parsons. “Our presence here at this difficult time and the lovely tulips we will leave behind are meant to send a strong message of Christian support and concern for this nation and what the Israeli people have suffered.”