Festival History

History is in the making in Central Florida where Jews and Christians are coming together in a large gathering to celebrate their common heritage. With worship and praise to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Scripture reading, reconciliation is taking place among Jews and Christians in the central Florida area since 2002. The focus of “Peace for Israel Festival” in all the years since 2002 has been to stand with Israel with prayers for peace and support for her existence.

The first festival was held at Seabreeze High School auditorium on July 21, 2002 when 500 Christians and 400 Jews came together. There was reconciliation and genuine love when Rabbi Gary Perras of Temple Israel brought a message from God’s word. The second festival was held at the Ocean Center of Daytona Beach on August 10, 2003, when a group of Israeli vendors was invited to display and sell their products from Israel. The festival concluded in the evening with an estimated attendance of 5,000 Christians and Jews participating in worship and prayer for the peace of Jerusalem. Rabbi Ben Yehuda spoke about peace and love and electrified the crowd. The third annual festival was held again at the Ocean Center on August 1, 2004 when an estimated attendance of 6,000 Christians and Jews came together to express their love for each other and for Israel. The highlight of the evening was a message from Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.

On May 29, 2005, a group of about 150 Christians and Jews embarked on a bold move to travel together to Israel to celebrate the common heritage and pray for the peace of Jerusalem in Jerusalem. A smaller festival was held at the Ophel on Sunday, June 5 with the participants from the central Florida and the local residents of Jerusalem.

On June 4, 2006, once again a group of 90 Christians and Jews traveled together to visit the common sites both to Christians and Jews and celebrated their common heritage in a small festival gathering overlooking the City of David.

The Fourth Annual “Peace For Israel Festival” is scheduled for Sunday, August 13, 2006 at the Peabody Auditorium of Daytona Beach.

For further information, please call

Rev. John Jeyaseelan at (386) 672-0250 / Bethelmin@AOL.COM,
Rabbi Gary Perras at (386) 252-3097/ Templeisraeloffice@cfl.rr.com or the
Jewish Federation at 386-672-0294/ fedvf@cfl.rr.com.