Thousands of Evangelical pilgrims mark Feast of Tabernacles in Ein Gedi
“Thousands of Evangelical Christian pilgrims from dozens of countries gathered at the Ein Gedi oasis near the Dead Sea on Friday night for the opening of the Feast of Tabernacles, the Christian term for the weeklong Jewish holiday of Sukkot.” Times of Israel
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I’ve been to Ein Gedi. Such a beautiful oasis in the midst of barren desert on the western shoreline of the Dead Sea. It’s only something like 50 - 60 miles from Jerusalem by road, but it felt like a million miles away……….
Seems like a strange venue for Feast of Tabernacles, but it’s a neat place (and there is a good bit of room there so…). Our group happened to tour it on Shabbat, and there were a number of Orthodox (if I have the right flavor) there in traditional dress, with children playing games with toys that looked like something hand made in the 19th century. I was glad we kept a repsectful distance but if I were them, I would be tempted not to think kindly of tourists all over the place on my holy day. Still, most Israelis probably understand that visitors are a huge, huge component of the economy there.
And yes, Larry, I also felt like I was a million miles from anywhere. Proximity of the Dead Sea tends to create that feeling, I think.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
A beautiful place, like nowhere else on Earth that I have been. Would love to go back some day.
G. N. Barkman
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