Dear Feast Members,
Shalom, and a very warm welcome to the City of the Great King!
It is our great privilege to welcome you from the nations to the Feast of Tabernacles 2026.
The theme for this year's Feast, "The Lord Roars from Zion," is taken from Joel 3:16:
"The Lord also will roar from Zion and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel." (NKJV)
What a powerful and timely theme. Every part of this scripture speaks profoundly into the prophetic days in which we live. We thank you for standing shoulder to shoulder with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) and the people of Israel, bringing comfort, encouragement, and support during this season of shaking. We are grateful that we can place our trust in the Lord, knowing that He will provide the strength, wisdom, and grace needed to make this year's Feast a wonderful tribute to our Lord and King. May His roar indeed be heard from Jerusalem in these days.
This year, we are blessed to gather in several special venues—some familiar and one new. We will begin our Feast celebrations at Kfar Ha Nokdim in the Judean Desert. Our main gathering venue in Jerusalem will be the Ussishkin Hall at the International Convention Centre (ICC), where the Feast was formerly held for many years. In many ways, we are returning to our roots. We will once again gather at the Garden Tomb for a meaningful time of worship and communion. Finally, we will conclude this year's Feast at Qasr al-Yahud, the traditional site where Jesus was immersed by John the Baptist. We can be expectant that the Holy Spirit will meet us there in a powerful way.
We do not take for granted the financial commitment, personal sacrifice, and physical effort many of you have made to be here and celebrate with us in Israel. We recognize that some of you may have received puzzled looks or even criticism from friends and family when you shared your plans to travel here. We are deeply grateful for your courage, faithfulness, and willingness to stand in the gap during this significant time.
As we serve throughout the Feast, I would like to remind you that the days can be long and demanding. There may be moments when we feel tired, frustrated, or stretched. During those times, let us remain focused on why we are serving and, most importantly, Whom we are serving. Let us make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3) and to see one another through His eyes.
As this Feast season can be spiritually challenging and opposition may at times be intense, I would like to encourage each of us to:
- Stay covered by His blood (1 John 1:7)
- Remain grounded in His Word (Matthew 24:35)
- Daily put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18)
- Be led by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6)
Finally, I encourage you to enjoy this special time together. Let us celebrate with grateful hearts, remembering that "The joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
Once again, thank you for your faithful service, dedication, and commitment. May the Lord bless you richly throughout this Feast and beyond.
With gratitude and blessings,
Richard van der Beek
