News
US leaders welcome 5777 in own styles
ANT KATZ with JTA
ABOVE: President Obama cited both memories of Shimon Peres and Elie Wiesel in his last Rosh Hashanah greeting from the Oval Office.
“My last Rosh Hashanah in the White House is a chance to reflect on the great privilege I’ve had as president to work closely with the Jewish community,” says US President Barack Obama on his eight years of working with the Jewish community.
In a video address, Obama referred to Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust memoirist and Nobel Peace laureate and Shimon Peres, the former Israeli president and prime minister, both who died this year. He had sought advice during his two terms from both men.
He also referred to his trip to Israel in 2013, where he prayed at the Western Wall, and the tradition he instituted of holding Pesach sederim at the White House.
“My last Rosh Hashanah in the White House is a chance to reflect on the great privilege I’ve had as president to work closely with the Jewish community,” Obama, (pictured right), said.
“To speak at synagogues here in the United States and abroad,” he said. “To place a private prayer in the ancient cracks of the Kotel https://www.sajr.co.za/images/default-source/People/single/5777-obama.jpg” class=”sfImageWrapper”>
Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the Oval Office next month, didn’t issue a statement or make a video.
Hr did what he does best – he tweeted!
In a tweet in his own name and that of his wife, Melania, Trump extended “warmest greetings to those observing Rosh Hashanah here in the United States, in Israel, and around the world.”
When one only has 140 characters to use, that was about all he had space for.
Hillary Clinton also didn’t forget
Hillary Clinton, Trump’s Democratic rival for the presidency, also delivered Rosh Hashanah greetings last week.
“All Americans should question whether we’re doing all that we can to work on ‘tikkun olam’ – repairing the world,” Clinton said in her message on Friday.
“That means asking ourselves if we could be doing more to help those who are hungry or in need of shelter,” she said. “If we could be doing more to make sure everyone has access to health care. And if we could be doing more to build a brighter future where no one is left out or left behind.”
