Nixon, Rockefeller and Lindsay Greet Jewish Community on Eve of Rosh Hashanah

President Richard M. Nixon, Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller and Mayor John V. Lindsay of New York headed the list of national, state and local dignitaries who extended New Year greetings to American Jews today as they prepared to usher in the Hebrew New Year. 5730. The Rosh Hashanah holiday commences at sundown Friday. President Nixon said, in a message from the White House, that, “The American Jewish Community has throughout the history of our nation been in the forefront of the search for true equality, dignity and decency for all. But at this time, ” the message continued, “we are especially reminded of the enduring contributions you have made to the unrelenting search for a real brotherhood of man under the Fatherhood of God. Our thoughts are with you as you begin these solemn days of worship, and our hearts are filled with gladness as we extend to each of you the traditional Hebrew greeting, ‘Shanah Tovah! “

Gov. Rockefeller’s message from Albany noted that “the example of millions of our neighbors and spiritual kinfolk, gathering in their synagogues and homes to search their hearts for ways to bring about a more equitable society through justice and mercy, is an inspiration to all men of good-will, no matter what their creed. We are truly fortunate that in the United States our substantial Jewish population has helped our society develop this same spiritual foundation of justice and mercy and thereby contributed importantly to our civilization.”

Mayor Lindsay observed in his message that the past year has been “a difficult one. We are grieved by the unjust hangings in Iraq. We are worried about the fate of the Jews in the Arab and Communist countries. We are concerned for the welfare of the State of Israel in its daily struggle to survive and we are troubled by the failure of the United Nations to recognize the desperate nature of this struggle,” he said.