Photo Friday: Their Joy Was Very Great

Stand for Israel  |  September 24, 2021

“Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”–as it is written.

So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had no celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. (Nehemiah 8:15-17)

These Bible verses from Nehemiah detail a very special Sukkot (the biblical Festival of Tabernacles) – the first time the Israelites were able to celebrate this holiday after their return from exile in Babylon. As Nehemiah tells us, “their joy was very great.”

So too must have been the joy of this family in 1949, as they prepare to celebrate Sukkot in the newly formed nation of Israel. Just like their forefathers, this Jewish family has returned to the land God promised them – as the Bible foretold – and celebrate in the manner His Word prescribed. We wish our Jewish friends a very Happy Sukkot, which began on Monday at sundown and ends this coming Monday. Chag Sameach!