Rosh Hashanah message from the President of Israel
22 Sep 2014
Message from the President of the State of Israel to the Jewish Communities of the Diaspora on the occasion of the New Year - Rosh Hashanah 5775

Brothers and sisters,
Leaders of the Jewish communities of the Diaspora and their friends,

Rosh Hashanah message from the President of Israel
22 Sep 2014
Message from the President of the State of Israel to the Jewish Communities
of the Diaspora on the occasion of the New Year - Rosh Hashanah 5775

Brothers and sisters,
Leaders of the Jewish communities of the Diaspora and their friends,

According to Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah represents a time of personal,
community and national soul-searching. In the shadow of the events of the
past months, this year, here in Israel, these days of reflection are
reaffirmed and take on a special meaning.

With the kidnapping and murder of the four teenagers: Naftali, Gilad, Eyal
and Muhammad; and the ongoing campaign in southern Israel in the background,
the citizens of Israel and their leaders were faced with difficult dilemmas:
the responsibility to defend our homes and land, alongside the concern of
harming innocent people; the commitment to enable a free democratic
dialogue, versus the need to set clear limits to restrain manifestations of
inflammatory behavior and incitement. Israel had to respond to the threats
of terror organizations from the outside, while maintaining its image and
values as a Jewish and democratic state that is committed to international
law and is dedicated to providing all its citizens with equality and
dignity, Arabs and Jews alike.

The resilience of Israel is not based on its military strength, but emanates
from the liberal, democratic and Jewish values on which it was founded. Even
at a time when Israel is required to mobilize its military front, it cannot
ignore its home front and the surge of violent political manifestations of
incitement and hate in its streets. Israel’s leadership and Israel’s society
are judged not only by their military resiliency, but also by their civil
resiliency, not only in normal times, but also in times of crisis.

In the course of Operation Protective Edge, I felt that Israel was not alone
in the arena. Leaders of the free world and many of the members of the
various Jewish movements and communities stood shoulder to shoulder with
Israel, supporting its duty to defend its citizens and identifying with its
efforts to restore peace to Israel’s southern communities.

On the threshold of the New Year, I want to thank you, leaders and members
of the Jewish communities, for your support of Israel’s soldiers and its
home front, and especially its southern communities. It is with much
anticipation that I hope we shall continue to stand together in the face of
the challenges awaiting the Jewish people in Israel and the Diaspora in the
future, generated by a sense of mutual responsibility and partnership.

Dear Friends,

The coming year is marked by Jewish tradition as a shmita year, a sabbatical
year for land and man. The observance of shmita serves to slow down the
economic race and utilitarianism, and see in others, a human being. I pray
that this year the gates of our hearts will open to let in compassion,
generosity and mutual responsibility. May the coming year bring the sound of
joy, a symphony of miscellaneous Jewish voices that will unite us all as a
family, community and people.

Shana Tova Ve’Metuka,

Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin