President Rivlin
President Rivlin sends Rosh Hashanah greetings
Watch: On the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5777, Israeli President Rivlin sends a holiday message to Jews in Israel and around the world; he calls on Diaspora Jews to strengthen connection with Israel, and reminds Diaspora Jews that the fate of Israel is their fate as well.
In Rosh Hashanah greeting to Diaspora, President Rivlin stresses challenges facing Jewish leaders, calls for greater engagement with Israel among the younger generation.
In the run up the Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year, President Reuven Rivlin issued his traditional greeting to Jewish communities around the world. The greeting was both recorded as a video and distributed as a letter.
“Today, the Jewish community and its leaders - in Israel and around the world - face three very difficult challenges,” Rivlin said in his message. He named the first as the ensuring the wellbeing and safety of Jewish communities around the world who are in need.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (Photo: Reuters)
“We must work to help them continue to be proud to be Jewish, with security, free from anti-Semitism, and free to wear a Kipa in the street.” The President reiterated that, “every Jew will always have a home in Israel, but should have the right to live without fear where they wish, and we must stand up for this right”.
The second challenge Rivilin argues that the world Jewish community faces is the "strengthening (of) the bond between Israel and the Diaspora – especially the younger generation.”
He spoke directly to young Jews around the world and stressed firmly, “do not take Israel for granted, do not forget that our destinies are tied together.”
“You hear arguments about religion, between right and left, and you see the conflict that has been forced on us with our neighbors and feel you have no voice,” he added.
“I say to you, this year, come to Israel and visit, come to Israel and learn - Israel is a strong democracy, come and hear and be heard. Because we are one people, and have a duty to each other”.
The President then noted that a third challenge was how to build and strengthen the connections between all of the different sectors in Israeli society.
We must build together a shared hope for Israel for our shared future in this land," he said. “As President of Israel this shared hope is at the top of my agenda, and I see you all as important partners in this mission”.
The President concluded, saying “let us this year face these challenges together. This is our strength. I wish you all a happy and sweet New Year.”
