Peace Sukkah in Jerusalem Welcomes Guests of All Faiths

Jerusalem, Israel – To celebrate the weeklong festival of Sukkot, UPF-Israel partnered with the Reform Jewish community for a program of praise songs and reflections on peacemaking. On October 8, 2025, the annual Peace Sukkah gathering took place at the Har‑El Synagogue in Jerusalem. Har‑El, like UPF, affirms its commitment to interfaith openness, welcoming all guests with respect and love. 

This year’s Sukkot observance coincided with the second anniversary of the outbreak of conflict in the region. Participants from diverse backgrounds – Jews and Arabs, Christians and Unificationists – united in a heartfelt appeal for the cessation of violence and the dawn of peace.

Mrs. Tali Ben Dor served as co-emcee alongside Mrs. Adi Saski, secretary general of UPF-Israel. Rabbi Ada Zavidov welcomed attendees and invoked the words of the late Dr. Jane Goodall: “My mission is to create a world where we can live in harmony with nature.”

Rev. Fursan Zumot, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Beit Jala, bore witness to his own journey from hatred to love for his Jewish brethren. Dr. Shelley Elkayam, poet and translator, presented an original piece inspired by children’s natural knowledge of peace, and also her Hebrew rendering of Dr. Sun Myung Moon’s poem, “The Crown of Glory.”

Knesset member Dr. Ofer Cassif expressed admiration for the deeply rooted Jewish ethos evident in this gathering, and underscored the necessity of equal human rights for all people. Mr. Hod Ben Zvi, chair of UPF-Israel, elaborated on the shared vision held by the Reform Jewish community and UPF – to advance peace as “one family under God” – and called for prayers for the release of all hostages, including Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Druze.

Rev. Haruko Morita, president of the Family Federation for World Peace (FFWPU) Israel, an affiliated organization, addressed the unjust detention of Dr. Hak Ja Han, UPF’s co-founder, in South Korea, and requested everyone's prayers on behalf of this noble leader of global peace.

The program concluded with a modest fellowship meal, enabling participants to connect, share, and cultivate new friendships.

 

By Hod Ben Zvi, Chair, UPF-Israel October 8, 2025