The following are Rosh Hashanah greetings offered by Israel�s President, Moshe Katsav, and Israel�s Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon:
Dear Friends,
On the eve of the New Year, as is customary, we will recite the blessing: “May it be Thou will to renew unto us a good and sweet year,” for the people of Israel and all human beings.
We pray that the year 5764 will herald blessings for the People of Israel that we live in security in our country – our homeland and that world Jewry and all of humanity will be granted a tranquil and secure life.
We pray that the much yearned for peace between us and our neighbours will be attained and that 5764 will see the disappearance of anti-Semitism in the world and a strengthening of the bond between the Jewish people in Israel and those in the Diaspora.
The free world strongly desires to live in peace and freedom. Humanity has the basic right to live without fear of terror. Israel has been suffering from terrorist activities since the beginning of Zionism and we believe that only a determined fight and international cooperation in the political, military, economic and judicial fields can annihilate terrorism.
I thank the Jewish communities for their expressions of solidarity with the State of Israel during this difficult period for the People of Israel. These increase our unity and lifts our spirit. We are proud that, despite all the difficulties, Aliyah is continuing. An extensive Aliyah can change Zionist and Jewish history and change the state of Israel.
I wish you and your families a good and blessed New Year, a year of success and the fulfillment of all our national and sovereign desires.
Sincerely,
Moshe Katsav
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Dear Friends,
As we prepare to greet the New Year, I take great pleasure in extending my best personal wishes for a sweet 5764 to Israel�s sister Jewish communities the world over.
This part of the calendar is generally reserved for introspection. The past few years have been immensely challenging for the State of Israel, both politically and economically. And yet, one constant bright spot for the Jewish state has been our ability to rely on the passionate support of our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, giving us the strength and encouragement to persevere in the face of adversity.
Israel continues to struggle against terror, but our spirit remains unbroken. With resolve and determination, we will not cease in our efforts to realize the Zionist dream – building our homeland and bringing peace, security and prosperity to our people.
But the future of our nation rests on our combined shoulders. The task of preserving a secure Israel as the guarantor of Jewish life around the world must be our shared endeavor, and I am confident that our common purpose and destiny will lead us onto success in this mission.
From Jerusalem, the eternal and undivided capital of the Jewish people, I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.
Sincerely,
Ariel Sharon
