A season for spreading light and cheer

ICEJ Aid Christmas/Hanukkah Appeal

ICEJ Aid Christmas/Hanukkah Appeal

By: 

Estera Wieja

Posted on: 

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 (All day) +0100

During the Hanukkah and Christmas seasons this December, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem will be reaching out once again to needy Jewish and Arab families throughout the Holy Land with holiday distributions via our ICEJ AID department, giving testimony to the "Light of the World” born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago.

Bringing Light at Hanukkah!

During Hanukkah, we will be sponsoring holiday festivities once again for several needy Jewish communities, especially so that underprivileged children and the elderly can enjoy this joyous celebration.

Hanukkah is known as the Festival of Lights or the “Feast of Dedication” (John 10:22). It marks the courageous victory of the Maccabees over oppressive Syrian-Greek rule and the miracle of light that came when the Temple was cleansed and re-dedicated for service.

Every year at Hanukkah, the ICEJ seeks to bless Jewish families and individuals in need on behalf of Christians around the world. This includes sponsoring holiday celebrations for disadvantaged Israeli youths and struggling Holocaust survivors, as well as donating toys and games for children, plus blankets and heaters for the elderly and new immigrants just at the onset of winter.

Much of this outreach is done in cooperation with Israeli social workers and local charitable organisations, and the holiday gift baskets come with special Hanukkah greeting cards from the Christian Embassy in the name of our worldwide family of friends and supporters.

Spreading Christmas Cheer!

Then as Christmas nears, the ICEJ will be sponsoring a number of holiday assistance projects among the Arab Christian community in Israel and the Palestinian areas. Working through local Arab pastors and churches, the ICEJ sponsors Christmas gatherings and the distribution of holiday gifts, clothing and food throughout the Holy Land. This brings warmth and cheer to hundreds of Christian and even Muslim families in Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem's Old City, Jericho and many other cities in the land of Christ's birth.

One of the ICEJ's faithful partners in spreading Christmas cheer each year is the First Baptist Church of Bethlehem, pastored by Dr. Naim Khoury and his son, Rev. Steven Khoury. They shepherd the largest Evangelical church in the West Bank, and every December the congregation hosts the biggest Christmas banquet in Bethlehem, with over one thousand in attendance.

Over recent years the ICEJ has been a major funder of this holiday banquet, which draws not only local Arab Christians but also many Muslims as well. Besides the bountiful meal, there are several choirs from area churches that lead in the singing of traditional Christmas carols and other worship songs. In addition, Dr. Khoury always delivers a strong message on the reason for Christ's coming and, without fail, dozens of Bethlehem's residents respond to his impassioned altar calls.

So please partner with the ICEJ to bring warmth and joy and peace to hundreds of Jewish and Arab families this holiday season. Time is short, so make your on-line donation today!