The special blessing was pronounced by 300 Kohanim (Priests) who stretched out their hands in prayer:

 

 

As well, special prayers were recited for the safety and welfare of Israeli soldiers and security forces.

 

When the blessing was over, Chief Rabbis Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau, and the government administrator in charge of the Western Wall, Rabbi Rabinovich, received guests in the sukkah (temporary dwelling) that had been built in the plaza. 

 

Sukkot is one of the three Shelosh Regalim or Jewish pilgrimage holidays during which Jews traveled in ancient times to the Temple in Jerusalem.  The other two are Passover and Shavuot.

 

The Priestly Blessing is recited at the Western Wall on all three holidays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the report has not been confirmed by other sources, Al-Rai stated that Iran blamed Monday's Parchin explosion on "a foreign country" and said that the Hezbollah attack on Israel was in response to the unexplained blast, which leveled several buildings, extensively damaging others.  (Haaretz)

Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based terrorist group backed by the Iranian regime, claimed responsibility for the double bombing at Har Dov (the Shabaa Farms region).  The first of the bombs injured two Israeli soldiers on patrol in an armored vehicle.  The second did not cause damage or casualties.

"Two soldiers were injured by an explosive device.  It was activated against them during activity near the Lebanon border," an Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman said.  "Initial reports indicate it was intended to attack soldiers."  (Israel National News)

 

 

 

 

 

Iran has blocked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from accessing Parchin since 2005, even though the United States requires the IAEA to fully investigate Iran's atomic programs before sanctions against Iran can end.  (Times of Israel)

Sanction advocates maintain that Iran is likely conducting nuclear development at a military level.  The IAEA claims it has compiled evidence that show the regime to be actively working on nuclear weapons.  Iran, however, says it is not working toward a nuclear bomb.

Israel's Channel 2 news interviewed Israeli Intelligence researcher Ronen Solomon, who believes Parchin's destroyed structures were bunkers where scientists have been building complex detonation triggers for atomic explosions.

"The Parchin military facility where the blast occurred has long been suspected of being a primary location of Iran's nuclear bomb efforts," writes Rick Moran of American Thinker.  "Some experts say that the blast revealed evidence for the first time that Iran has not stopped trying to build the bomb."

Moran adds that it is yet uncertain "how much Iran's nuke program has been set back," but that it won’t matter in the long run if international negotiations allow Iran to proceed.

"Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed."  (Psalm 21:11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

"See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."  (Isaiah 60:2–3)

On Sunday, Israel announced the winners of the Second Annual Eric and Sheila Samson Prime Minister's Prize for Innovation in Alternative Fuels for Transportation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Science, Technology and Space Minister Yaacov Peri said this year's $1 million prize will go to two internationals—Prof. Thomas Meyer of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Prof. Michael Grätzel of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne.

Meyer and Grätzel are focused on converting solar energy into energy capable of powering transportation.

Meyer, who is the Arey Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, is working to convert solar energy into electricity by splitting water at an atomic level for use in artificial photosynthesis.  The goal is to replace carbon dioxide emissions with water emissions.  (JPost)

Grätzel, who is the director of a photonics laboratory, perfected his Grätzel Cell to imitate photosynthesis using fruit-based dyes that draw in sunlight and emit charges—producing an electrical current even in low-light conditions.
 

 

The prize was established in recognition of the growing need to research and develop technologies "that reduce the global use of oil in transportation."  Israel called the need "an international concern and a top national priority."

In this effort, Israel offered the largest monetary prize in the world for innovation in alternative-fuel research and development.

"This prize symbolizes the State of Israel’s commitment to the advancement of the field of alternative fuels, which is of utmost importance to every aspect of our lives here—to Israel’s economy, security, scientific research and society,” Peri said.

"We are making a major multi-year effort so that we will not be dependent on fluctuations in the price of oil.  This prize gives the researchers true appreciation for their efforts," Netanyahu said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The streets of Jerusalem were closed for two days last week as the second annual non-competitive Jerusalem Formula One Road Show sent roaring supercars coursing around some of Judaism’s holiest sites.

 

Roads around the Old City of Jerusalem closed between noon and 9 p.m. on both Monday and Tuesday as about 300,000 Israelis lined the streets to watch international race-car and stunt drivers.

 

 

 

Motorcycle stunt rider Rafal Pasierbek found the crowd’s energy invigorating.

 

 

Jerusalem’s mayor, Nir Barkat, called the show an investment in the city’s future.

 

"We were forced to postpone the event due to Operation Protective Edge this summer, but we were determined to resume our routine in Jerusalem," Barkat said, emphasizing the need to strengthen the city after recent criticisms by the White House and European Union.  (JPost)

 

"This is a message to the whole world that Jerusalem is an open and inviting city—a city of culture and sport," stated Barkat, who is himself a former race-car driver.  "Our aim is to bring back as many tourists as we can to Jerusalem, and we are expecting many visitors over the Sukkot holiday period."

 

 

 

"Motorsport unites people all over the world," the Kaspersky Lab CEO said, with the Jerusalem race bringing dozens of international teams and their Porsches, Ferraris and Audis to where the rubber meets the road.  (Arutz 7)

 

This event marks the first year that a homegrown team brought Israeli-flag racing stripes to the road, with drivers Roy Nissany, Yarin Stern and Bar Baruch piloting single seaters and Alon Day steering a German GT Masters series.

 

"You have to realize there's been no [competitive] motorsport in Israel in the past 50 years," Day said.  (Times of Israel)

 

"This is something extremely big, and will give a really big boost to Israeli motorsport," he said.

 

 

 

 

"I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one."  (Ezekiel 22:30)

A Christian multitude rallied to "Stand with Israel" last Sunday on Washington, DC's Capitol Hill, with millions more partaking in the yearly Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, also on Sunday.
 

On October 5, thousands of Pro-Zionist Christians took up the call in the two-hour "Stand with Israel" rally on Capitol Hill.

Co-sponsored by Concerned Women for America and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, the rally issued a strong message that America's Christians must stand with Israel—as Israel stands at the front lines between America and her enemies.

 

CWA president Penny Nance said that she was prompted to support Israel during a visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, where she came to understand the depth of evil facing the Jewish People.

"If I had been alive during the Holocaust, what would I have done?" Nance asked the crowd.  "Would I have been one of those people, one of those Christians, who just turned away and turned a blind eye to the evil that was right before me?"  (CBN)

 

 

Washington Post blogger Jennifer Rubin said the rally leaders argued that the U.S. administration is "insufficiently supportive of Israel and clueless about the enormity of the jihadist threat."

"These Zionists understand Israel and the U.S. are up against the same Islamist fundamentalists who want to cleanse Christians, Jews and non-fundamentalist Muslims from their midst," Rubin writes.

"Israel isn't the ultimate target.  We are.  Let us never forget it," Huckabee said at the event.

 

Meanwhile, the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem brought together Believers in 175 nations "to pray in their worship services, in their homes, in regional gatherings, on the prayer app Instapray, and on a 24-hour prayer conference call," writes Charisma News.

"The current on-going clarion call to mobilize prayers for the peace of Israel … could not have been made at a better time than now," said Mosy Madugba of the Ministries Prayer Network, a Day of Prayer endorser.  "The evil one is mobilizing the nations against Israel, only an effective, global, coordinated prayer effort can save Israel.”

The Consul General of the State of Israel in New York, Asaf Shariv, also issued support for the Day of Prayer.

"I think it's always the time to pray for Jerusalem.  In the last six years, you know, Israel has been under constant attack, and recent years and the last month it's getting worse," Shariv said.  "The Iranian regime, Hamas, and Hezbollah—everybody's aiming at Jerusalem.  That's why it's so important to pray for it and to fight for it, because it is the eternal capital of the Jewish people and the eternal and undivided capital of the State of Israel."

 

 

As we consider how God tabernacles among us during this holiday season of Sukkot, please pray for the peace of Jerusalem and stand with Israel by reaching out with a special holiday gift.