(JTA) — President Obama reflected on the High Holidays and offered New Year’s greetings in a conference call with nearly 1,000 rabbis.
Obama in the call on Friday afternoon extended the greetings on behalf of himself and the first lady for a sweet, happy and healthy New Year. He noted that the Jewish High Holidays provide an opportunity for Jews to reflect on the past year and recommit themselves to core values.
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins on Wednesday evening.
With the United States marking the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, Obama also noted the important role played by American Jews in the civil rights movement.
The president also discussed the upcoming enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act and the renewed Israel-Palestinians peace talks.
Four major rabbinical organizations hosted the call: the Central Conference of American Rabbis (Reform); the Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative); the Rabbinical Council of America (Orthodox); and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.
