Governor Dewey Greets American Jews on Occasion of Rosh Hashanah

Governor Thomas E. Dewey has released the following Rosh Hashanah massage to the American people:

“My heartfelt greetings to the Jewish people on this coming new year. The year 5709 marks a new epoch in the life of Jewry and the world. It is the first year since the destruction of Jewish independence nineteen centuries ago that Israel has regained its freedom and statehood and its voice as a free nation to play its part again as a leader in spiritual though and cultural elevation.

“The steadfastness with which the Jewish people have held to their faith and ideals in the face of persecution, tribulation and martyrdom has preserved their great spiritual and moral strength and made them champions of liberty and righteousness. Their love for their ancient homeland, their prayers and striving for its redemption have kept up their courage and hope for the restoration of the Jewish nationhood and achieved the magnificent result.

“The Jewish people may meet the new year with confidence and expectation of a brighter and happier future. The world in which in the past the exiled Israelites suffered so much looks now with admiration at the heroic struggle of Israel to regain its rightful place among the free nations. Man of good will everywhere pray and hope together with you that the new year will bring strength, security and peace to the reborn nation of Israel.

“Americans of other faiths send their good wishes to their Jewish neighbors on Rosh Hashanah, taking pride in the contribution of the American Jewish community throughout the years to the greatness of our country, to her democracy and her ideate shall serve as a beacon light to mankind in its struggle for equality, justice and freedom. Together with you we also pray that the year 5709 may be inscribed as the year of the resurgence of morality and righteousness in the world and that peace shall reign and humanity prosper.”