A group of Orthodox Jews were filmed spitting and shouting at Christian pilgrims carrying the four spices through Jerusalem’s Old City this week.
The incident caused public outcry as it was not the first of its kind and took place on Sukkot – what Christians call the Feast of Tabernacles – when hundreds of thousands of Christians come to Israel to celebrate.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned any attack on religious believers.
“We will show zero tolerance against those who harm the faithful,” he said, stressing, “we will take immediate and decisive action against such acts.
“Offensive behavior towards the faithful is blasphemy and is unacceptable,” Netanyahu said.
“Israel is fully committed to maintaining the sacred right of worship and pilgrimage to the holy sites of all religions.
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen issued an equally stern statement.
“I condemn the ugly act of spitting on Christians and hurting anyone because of their religion or beliefs. This phenomenon does not represent the values of Judaism.”
“Freedom of religion and tolerance are core values in Israel,” he continued. “Hundreds of thousands of Christian tourists visit the Holy Land each year to explore the holy sites important to them and to us. I call on all Israeli citizens to respect the traditions and beliefs of all who enter the gates of Jerusalem, the holy city”.
A group of pilgrims goes out with the cross on Shaar Ariot street and meets a group of devout Jews with all 4 genders and then the spitting begins. I counted at least 7 in a few seconds. pic.twitter.com/YjqaknATLw
— Nir Hasson Nir Hasson (@nirhasson) October 2, 2023
Israel’s chief rabbi, Rabbi David Lau, similarly condemned the incident. Likewise, he stressed that “these unacceptable behaviors should not be associated in any way with Jewish religious law.”
His comments were reinforced by the Liberal community, including Labor Party leader Merav Michaeli, who said: “We must condemn [such acts]and we will continue to respect all nations.”
The event came just two days after President Isaac Herzog reiterated Israel’s commitment to freedom of religion and worship in a video he produced for some 4,000 Christian visitors to the country in honor of the Feast of Tabernacles .
In the video, he tells Christians that “the State of Israel will always preserve freedom of religion and worship and sees you as our guests and brothers.”
Herzog spoke against the backdrop of a series of anti-Christian attacks Earlier this year, including an event near the Western Wall where ultra-Orthodox men shouted and spat on evangelical Christians as they prayed for peace in Jerusalem. Although the incidents were isolated and dealt with immediately by the Israeli police, when combined with vandalism and violence against other sects in the Old City and the north, there were concerns that protests could erupt into around the Feast of Tabernacles.
In the video, he tells Christians that “the State of Israel will always preserve freedom of religion and worship and sees you as our guests and brothers.”
Last month, the president of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ), Juergen Buehler, whose organization plans the Feast of Tabernacles for a week celebration, he said in a webinar that he feared anti-Christian sentiment was growing and that “I am concerned that it may have an impact on the holiday [of Tabernacles].”
Tuesday morning’s incident fueled Buehler’s concern. Additionally, an ICEJ spokesperson told the Post that protests are expected outside some of the party’s events, and that right-wing leaders tried to get officials to report the stunt, but to no avail.
Israel must protect ‘all religious communities’
Herzog told Christian supporters that Israel “will insist on protecting all religious communities” and that this commitment “goes to the very heart of who we are as a Jewish and democratic state, and it is not something we will ever compromise on.”
Herzog’s video was played Sunday evening for Christian visitors — the third day of the Feast of Tabernacles celebration.
On Wednesday at 3pm thousands of Christians are expected to take to the streets for the Jerusalem March. Visitors from more than 100 nations will dress in national costumes, carry signs quoting from the Bible and express their support for Jerusalem and Israel. Protesters often hand out national flags and other small souvenirs.
This is the 44th Feast of Tabernacles. Before COVID-19, nearly 6,000 Christians came to Israel for the occasion. During the pandemic, more than 7,000 people participated online. As tourism has returned to Israel, the number of visitors is growing again.
ICEJ Vice President David Parsons said among the 4,000 visitors this year is a high-level delegation from Fiji, including the Deputy Prime Minister, who flew to Israel on a chartered plane and will hold meetings at around his upcoming move of the country’s embassy to Jerusalem.
In addition, there are Christian visitors from Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries.
Herzog praised Christians for coming to Jerusalem and sharing their “brotherly love for the Jewish people.”
He said, “Our Jewish tradition regards this season during the Harvest Festival as a time of universality when all people attain divine abundance and blessing,” adding that in the Book of Zechariah, the “gathering of the nations to Jerusalem” to celebrate Sukkot. is described
“Here, now, you are living that vision,” the president said. “Today we speak the same language of faith, the language of blessing, the language of peace and the language of love.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also sent a video address to Christians, inviting more “Christian friends [to] come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with us.”
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