As we stand at the threshold of a New Year, I take pleasure in sending you warm greetings from Jerusalem, the eternal and undivided capital of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.

The period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is one of introspection and atonement.  We must look back and learn from the year which has passed, and integrate these lessons as we look ahead towards the future.

For many years, researchers and leaders have spoken of the dangers facing the Jewish people – whether in the form of hatred and anti-Semitism, or because of the issues of intermarriage, assimilation and erosion of Jewish identity and affinity with the State of Israel.

The State of Israel and the Diaspora communities must work together to ensure that the Jewish people continue to grow stronger and become more unified.  

We must encourage and support the next generation of Jewish leadership in this important endeavour.  Since the establishment of the State of Israel, we have been partners in the Zionist enterprise, and we must now be partners in ensuring our future as a vibrant inclusive people.

We are all Jews, first and foremost.  We must never lose sight of this, nor can we forget the central role the State of Israel plays in this identity.  One cannot exist without the other, and we must work together to strengthen both halves of the whole.

Wishing you a Shana Tova, a year filled with joy, love and health.

Sincerely,
Ehud Olmert