(shofar blaring)

- [Julie] This week on Jerusalem Dateline,

thousands of Christianscome up to Jerusalem

to celebrate the biblicalFeast of Tabernacles.

Plus, Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu

addresses the UN and revealsa hidden Iranian atomic site.

And an ancient biblical tradition.

A priestly blessing.

All this and more thisweek on Jerusalem Dateline.

(dramatic music)

- [Julie] Hello andwelcome to this edition

of Jerusalem Dateline.

I'm Julie Stahl fillingin for Chris Mitchell.

Thousands of Christiansfrom around the world

have come up to Jerusalem to participate

in the biblical Feast ofTabernacles, or Sukkot.

We'll have more on the feast celebration

later in our show, andwe're going to take you

to the Jerusalem March wheremany of those Christians

are showing their support for Israel.

But first, Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu

addressed the UN GeneralAssembly in New York.

He says Iran has hidden asecond atomic site in Tehran

and vowed that Israel wouldfind whatever Iran hides.

Just a few months afterPrime Minister Netanyahu

revealed that Israel had gotten a hold

of secret Iranian atomic archives,

he revealed a second facility.

- In May, we exposed the site

of Iran's secret atomic archive.

It's right here, in theShorabad district of Tehran.

Today, I'm revealing thesite of a second facility,

Iran's secret atomic warehouse.

It's right here, in theTurouzabad district of Tehran,

just three miles away.

- [Julie] Addressingthe UN General Assembly

with his classic visual aids,

Netanyahu said Irandidn't destroy the sites

because its goal is a nuclear weapon.

- In fact, they plan touse both of these sites

in a few years, whenthe time would be right

to break out to the atom bomb.

But ladies and gentlemen, restassured that won't happen.

It won't happen because whatIran hides Israel will find.

- [Julie] Iran, meanwhile,denied the allegations

and said there was nothing

to what the foreign minister called

Netanyahu's arts and crafts show,

but Netanyahu said Iran'saggression is clear

in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon,

and Israel would continueto defend itself.

- We will continue toact against you in Syria.

We will act against you in Lebanon.

We will act against you in Iraq.

We will act against youwhenever and wherever.

We must act to defend ourstate and to defend our people.

Instead of coddling Iran's dictators,

join the US and Israeland most of the Arab world

in supporting new sanctionsagainst the regime

that endangers all ofus and all of the world.

- Netanyahu didn't mentionRussia in his speech.

Russia is set to deliver a more advanced

anti-aircraft missile system to Syria

after Syria mistakenlyshot down a Russian plane.

That system could make it more difficult

for Israel to prevent anIranian military buildup

inside Syria.

Julie Stahl, CBN News. Jerusalem

Prime Minister Netanyahuand President Trump

met for the first time

since the US Embassy move to Jerusalem.

They were both in New York

for the United Nations General Assembly.

Netanyahu thanked Trump for his support

for Israel's right to defend itself

in a dangerous part of the world.

- The American-Israeli alliancehas never been stronger.

It's stronger than everbefore under your leadership,

and I look forward to working with you

and your team to advanceour common interests,

security, prosperity, and peace

with Israel's neighborsand for the region.

- At a press conference, Trump was asked

about his Israeli-Palestinian peace plan

and created a stir when heseemed to publicly endorse

a two state solution for the first time.

- There's nothing Iwould rather do than see

peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

I like a two state solution.

(reporters shout out questions)

That's what I think works best.

I don't even have to speak to anybody.

That's my feeling.

- Trump later clarifiedhis Tuesday comment,

saying he'd back whateverthe two sides agreed on,

one state or two.

President Trump also addressedworld leaders at the UN.

While he talked about Iran,North Korea and trade,

the President also made clearhis message is America first.

CBN White House correspondent Ben Kennedy

brings us that story.

- In a 35-minute speech,the President covered

a wide range of topics,specifically pointing out

that sanctions will remainin place against North Korea

until they get rid oftheir nuclear program,

but the driving theme ishow Trump will continue

to put his country first.

President Trump returnedto the world stage,

delivering his second addressto the UN General Assembly.

In it, he doubled down onthe White House's policy

of America first.

- In less than two years, myadministration has accomplished

more than almost any administration

in the history of our country.

America's, so true.

(audience laughs)

Didn't expect that reaction,

but that's okay.(audience laughs)

- [Ben] Just last year, Trumpstood here calling Kim Jong Un

Little Rocket Man.

- Rocket Man is on asuicide mission for himself.

- [Ben] Today, he changed his tune

against the rogue regimefollowing his historic summit

with the North Korean dictator.

- Since that meeting, we have already seen

a number of encouraging measures

that few could have imaginedonly a short time ago.

The missiles and rockets

are no longer flying in every direction.

Nuclear testing has stopped.

- [Ben] Trump then took aim at Iran.

- Iran's leaders, so chaos,death and destruction.

- [Ben] The US responded by withdrawing

from the 2015 nuclear agreement,

and even reinstated economic sanctions.

Trump's now asking nations tojoin him in isolating Iran.

- We cannot allow a regimethat chants death to America

and that threatensIsrael with annihilation

to possess the means todeliver a nuclear warhead

to any city on earth.

Just can't do it.

- [Ben] The Commander in Chiefreaffirmed support for Israel

and his decision to movethe US Embassy to Jerusalem.

- The United States iscommitted to a future

of peace and stability in the region,

including peace between theIsraelis and the Palestinians.

- Trump also announced newsanctions against Venezuela

and that, yes, the USwill respond in Syria

if Bashar al-Assad useschemical weapons again.

This was, no doubt, aclosely watched speech

as Trump says the US is committed

to making the UN more effective.

Ben Kennedy, CBN News, the White House.

- In other news, The Wall Street Journal

is reporting AmericanPastor Andrew Brunson

could be released from Turkey

at his next court hearing on October 12th.

The nearly two-year-old saga

has led to an international crisis

between the two NATO allies

and as Chris Mitchell reports,

there is much more at stakethan just world politics.

- [Chris] The Turkishgovernment moved Pastor Brunson

from jail to house arrest in July.

Although the 50-year-oldpastor has ministered

in the country for more than two decades,

the Turkish government charged Brunson

with conspiring againstPresident Erdogan's rule

during a 2016 attempted coup.

The Trump administrationcalls those charges bogus

and has made securing PastorBrunson's freedom a priority.

- I don't think there's everbeen any administration,

any President that has broughtup a prisoner of conscience,

a prisoner who's in prisonbecause of his faith,

more than any other onethen President Reagan did

for Natan Sharansky, so this is historic.

- [Chris] And the Trumpadministration went beyond talking,

leveling sanctions onTurkey that put its currency

into a freefall.

- All of the secularmedia, without exception,

are saying a pastor, whocares about a pastor.

The trade with Turkeyis much more important.

The money and the value of thelira is much more important.

But the Trump administration said, no,

a pastor who's falselyaccused and is in prison

is important to us and we're willing

to really put our moneywhere our mouths are

and they're taking a strong stand.

- [Chris] Egyptian-bornMichael Youssef says

other nations are paying attention.

- Now the world is watching this.

They are not ignoring this.

They know that they're going to be next

unless they stop persecuting Christians.

- [Chris] Franklin Grahamcalled Christians to pray

and for the US to be careful.

- First I would ask everybodywho's watching right now,

the Christians, to prayfor Andrew Brunson.

He's been falsely accused.

This is just a sham.

Turkey, we have to rememberthat this is a country

that is fast becoming aradical Islamic state.

I think we need to get Brunson home

and we need to be very careful

with whatever we do asa country with Turkey

until they change leadership

and change the direction they're going.

- [Chris] Kerem saysthere's much more at stake

than an internationalcrisis between NATO allies.

- There's been manypeople, ourselves included,

that believe God was goingto do something in Izmir,

ancient Smyrna, Izmir, whereAndrew Brunson is today

that was going to impact not only Turkey,

but all the nations around it

because it's clear thatAndrew Brunson is in prison

or under arrest for one reason,

and that's his hope andfaith in Jesus Christ

as the Messiah, not only of the West,

but of the entire world.

- [Chris] Chris Mitchell,CBN News, Jerusalem.

(driving music)

- Coming up, praying forwhat some are calling

the most importantelections in US history.

As we promised, we broughtyou to the Jerusalem March,

but first, some politicalobservers believe

that the upcoming Novemberelections in the US Congress

are some of the mostimportant in US history.

Given the close tiesbetween the US and Israel,

that could have an impacton the Jewish state.

Here's what two AmericanChristian leaders have to say.

- [Chris] On November 6th,Americans will decide the makeup

of the House ofRepresentatives and the Senate

for the next two years.

Christian leaders CindyJacobs and Lance Wallnau

told CBN News the churchcan play a vital role

in those elections.

- I think that we need to pray

that God will raise up righteous leaders.

We're at a tipping point for the nation

and I believe that, if we donot vote righteously then,

then we're going to seesomething start to unravel.

So as intercessors, wewant to pray, pray, pray

that God will be exalted.

- [Chris] Wallnau sees freedom on the line

and a time to act.

- We need to mobilize in our country

so that we're actually able to occupy

the spaces where we have freedom

and push back on havingthose freedoms taken away.

And most Christiansdon't want to mobilize.

They don't want to be activists,

but the book of Acts is about acts.

That's the root of activism.

You've got to get engaged.

- [Chris] Jacobs is mobilizinga 40-day prayer event.

- One thing we're doing is

there's a group of prayer networks

that we have all banded together

and we have somethingcalled Pray in Unity.

- [Chris] The website, prayinunity.org

provides prayer guidesbeginning September 28th

through Election Day.

- You can sign up, prayer walk your street

or find a prayer group atyour church, but please pray.

Pray for your family, butalways pray beyond your family

because your family will suffer

under unrighteous administrations

if you don't pray for the nation.

- [Chris] They both agreeprayer is a big step

followed by actually voting.

- We have to pray, but wehave to mobilize and vote,

and I think that sometimes we think

that the prayer is the substitute

for the corresponding action,

and you can't hire someoneelse to do your civic duty.

You've got to vote

for the congressmanthat's in your district.

You can vote for thesenator in your state.

These are elections right now

where you have directauthority in your territory.

And so this is whereChristians have to show up

in their own territory.

- You know, voting is spiritual.

Voting is actually a spiritual act

because we're calledto steward our nations,

we're called to disciple our nations.

So if we vote, then wewill get righteous leaders.

- [Chris] Chris Mitchell,CBN News, Jerusalem.

- Coming up, Sukkot,

the feast where we'recommanded to rejoice.

As we said earlier, Israel is celebrating

the biblical Feast of Sukkot

and thousands of Christianshave come from around the world

to celebrate with them,see prophecy fulfilled,

and attend the annual Feastof Tabernacles celebration.

Here's more on that happyand prophetic event.

- It's a gala event,Christian pilgrims dressed

in national costumes celebratingthe feast in Jerusalem.

More than 5,000 Christiansfrom nearly 100 countries

came here for the week-long celebration.

They came to worship the God of Israel

and stand with his people.

- I know it's gonna be alife changing experience,

and I love Israel and Ithink that this is a time

that things are going to turn around

and it's very prophetic.

- They're following theinvitation of Zechariah 14,

which says, one day, all the nations

will come up to celebratethis biblical feast

here in Jerusalem to worship the Lord

and keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

And we're showing up nowas a statement of faith

that that day is coming whenthe Messiah will rule here.

- [Chris] David Parsonsof the International

Christian Embassy Jerusalemsays this year's theme,

Dare to Dream, comes from Psalm 126.

- When the Lord turnedagain the captivity of Zion,

we were like those that dream.

And it's about the dream of Israel,

all those centuries of beingrestored back to the land,

ending the exile, coming back here,

and we live in the dayof Israel's restoration.

Israel is now 70 yearsold as a reborn state

and there's much to celebrate.

They've overcome many wars,terror attacks, rocket barrages,

economic boycotts, otherattempts to strangle it.

- [Chris] As part ofthis year's celebration,

people are getting the CBN documentary,

To Life: How Israeli VolunteersAre Changing the World.

The film shows how Israelworks to be among the first

to respond to disastersand needs around the world.

- And we're very happythat all the feast pilgrims

are gonna go back withcopies of it in English

and we're partneringwith CBN to also provide

Hebrew copies to all our Israeli guests

through the feast this week.

- [Chris] And Christiansare glad to be here.

- It's great.

It's a part of the propheticwords from the Bible.

- We've just been studyingthe things in the Bible

that talks about how Jerusalemis going to be restored

and Israel is going to be restored

and we want to be part of that.

It's amazing.

- I am really delighted and thrilled

to what I have been witnessedsince yesterday evening,

and I think I take with me a commitment

to now pray more for Israel,for the peace of Israel,

of Jerusalem, and even domore and mobilize more people

to also work towards the peace of Israel.

- [Chris] Chris Mitchell,CBN News, Jerusalem.

- For thousands of years,

the Jewish people have followedthe biblical injunction

to live in temporary dwellings

during the Feast ofTabernacles, or Sukkot.

Here's a story we did earlier.

We want to take you for a look inside

one of those sukkahs so you can hear

just how it brings Jewishpeople closer to God.

Some call him Hashem.

(speaking foreign language)

- It's an ancient biblical commandment

that's still being kept today.

Some call it a Jewish camping trip,

but with the conveniences of home.

- Shalom, welcome!- Shalom!

- We're so glad to have you- Thank you.

- [Te'ena] in here with us in our sukkah.

- Yes, thank you.

- We're here in oursukkah, which is really

the home away from homefor this whole week

of the Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot.

- [Julie] Like many Israelis

and Jewish people around the world,

Seth and Te'ena Ben-Haimbuild a sukkah, or booth,

on the back porch of theirJerusalem apartment every year.

- It helps us remember, first of all,

we're commanded to rememberthe exodus from Egypt

and how we needed towander through the desert

for 40 years without permanent dwellings.

But it also reminds us that,

even though we've been broughtinto the land of Israel,

we haven't reached our final destination.

- So tell us about the sukkah itself.

How do you make a sukkah?

- The main thing is that it's a roof

that will make us feel thatwe're open to the elements

and then we need to--- And why is that?

- Well, because otherwise we'd be

in the protection ofour homes in some ways.

And we're supposed to bein this flimsy tabernacle

so that we can remember that, ultimately,

were under Hashem's protection.

- Most sukkahs aredecorated, at least in part,

by the children.

Families eat, sleep,study, and play together

in their temporaryhouses for a whole week.

Despite the camping conditions,

it's considered a joyful time.

- And then you can focus onthe real important things

like relationships and just sitting down

and studying the word andtalking with the children

about God's faithfulness.

- [Julie] Jonathan andhis sister, Rebecca,

enjoy the holiday so much,

Jonathan made his treehouse into a sukkah.

- Just for Sukkot.

- [Julie] Just for Sukkot.

And that too.

That's very pretty.

So you decorated your sukkah up here.

- Yeah.

- [Julie] Wow.

Another part of the Sukkot celebration,

recorded in Leviticus 23,is bringing a special fruit

and branches to rejoice before the Lord.

- We offer them toHashem, all four of these,

in our prayers every morning.

We wave them in many different directions

and we really look to above.

And that's what this type of roof

helps us remember too,is we're looking to above

'cause that's where ourhope is gonna come from.

- Julie Stahl, CBN News, Jerusalem.

Still ahead, an ancientbiblical tradition,

the priestly blessing.

Thousands of Israelis andJews from around the world,

as well as Christians,packed the Western Wall plaza

to participate in anancient biblical tradition.

Take a look.

(cantor singing)

Its called the BirkatKohanim, or priestly blessing.

- If you're a man or a woman of faith,

those blessings have supernatural powers,

especially when you havesuch a large group together

of the people of Israel and priests.

- [Julie] In the book of Numbers,

God commands Moses and Aaron

to bless the children of Israel.

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift up his countenance upon you

and give you peace.

The Aaronic benediction or blessing

is part of Jewish prayersevery day in Israel,

but during Sukkot, Jewish people gather

from around the world at the Western Wall

to give and receive this ancient blessing.

Jewish men who are believedto be of the priestly line

come to bless the people of Israel.

- It's an honor 'cause I myself am a kohen

and I'm gonna be the one

that's going to be blessing them.

Like for example, today Iwas all the way up front

by the Wall, blessingeveryone under my tallith.

- [Julie] And the more that come

to bless and be blessed, the better.

- Because I believe in God.

It's important.

- They pray for all of the Jewish people

of all the world for peaceand good things, good things.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Translator] Jewish people come

for the priestly blessingon the Feast of Tabernacles

and we pray and we hope that our prayers

will ascend to heaven.

(cantor singing)

- Julie Stahl, CBN News, Jerusalem.

That's it for this edition.

Thanks for joining us.

Remember, you can follow us on Facebook,

Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

I'm Julie Stahl.

We'll leave you this weekwith more sights and sounds

of the Jerusalem March,and we'll see you next time

on Jerusalem Dateline.

(marchers shouting)

(upbeat Jewish music)

(driving music)