Rosh Hashanah

September 13-15, 2015
5776

 

The Biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah or the Feast of Trumpets. Rosh Hashanah is a time when God reviews and judges a person’s deeds in the past year, according to Jewish belief. It is also a time to look ahead with hope.

 

Rosh Hashanah is one of the most sacred days of the Jewish calendar.

It is the first of the High Holy Days, a 10-day period of repentance in which the Jewish people around the world reflect on their faith, re-examine the past year and look to the year ahead.

 

In an English-language message for Rosh Hashanah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed against the “bigoted and prejudiced” critics of Israel who level “slanderous charges against the one and only Jewish state.”

 

“Since last Rosh Hashanah, it’s become evident to all but the most bigoted and prejudiced that Israel stands out like a beacon of progress, of modernity, of democracy and of human rights in a region plagued by fanaticism, by terror, by unbelievable savagery,” Netanyahu said.

 

Netanyahu bashes Israel critics in Rosh Hashanah video

 

Putin’s message came alongside similar communications from other world leaders, including US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

 

“For every Jew, Rosh Hashanah is not just a salute to the priceless spiritual and historical heritage of their fathers,” Putin wrote. “During these days it is customary for each person to evaluate the moral outcome of his actions, to plan good deeds, to forgive, and to make amends for insults. And of course, in preparation for the festival, they help relatives, and serve and support anyone in need.”

“This period of observance provides an opportunity for all Canadians to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the Jewish community in building a peaceful, pluralistic and prosperous Canada. “I wish everyone in Canada and around the world celebrating Rosh Hashanah a very sweet New Year. says Canada Prime Minister Steven Harper

 

“As human beings we are not required to be perfect,” Obama said, “but we are required to atone where we’ve fallen short, to do whatever we can to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, and to love the stranger and treat him as we would like to be treated.” The US president added that “faith is hard, hope is hard, peace is hard, but right now the book is open, not just for God but for us.”

 

In a message for the Jewish new year, British Prime Minister David Cameron stressed that in the wake of anti-Semitic attacks around the world, Jewish people “must not be left to live in fear.”  “I deeply admire the way Jewish communities emphasize their responsibility for creating a better, fairer society for everyone,” he said. “I wish everyone a very sweet new year. Shana tova and a ketivah v’chatima tovah,”

Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei may be urging the Jewish state’s extinction and anticipating its demise, but Iranian President Hassan Rouhani still took time Sunday to wish the Jewish people a happy new year, just in time for the Rosh Hashanah holiday.  “May our shared Abrahamic roots deepen respect & bring peace & mutual understanding. L’Shanah Tovah. #RoshHashanah”

 

“I ask you this Rosh Hashanah to join with all Israelis,

with all the friends of Israel, with the Jewish people everywhere,

in wishing for a better future for the world, for the Middle East,

and most importantly, for the one and only Jewish state.

[May we have] a good year.” said Netanyahu.