As the Jewish community celebrates Rosh Hashanah, both Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have extended their best wishes for the New Year.
Prime Minister Albanese offered his heartfelt message, stating, “I wish the Jewish community the very best as you mark the beginning of a new year, and what we all hope will be a better year.”
Prime Minister Modi also conveyed his greetings, expressing, “Best wishes on Rosh Hashanah to my friend PM Benjamin Netanyahu, the people of Israel, and the Jewish community across the world. May the new year bring peace, hope, and good health in everyone’s life. Shana Tova!”
Australia’s Opposition Leader Peter Dutton issued a detailed media statement reflecting on the past year’s hardships faced by Jewish people globally, calling it one of the most difficult periods since the end of the Second World War.
Dutton noted the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October last year, which marked the greatest loss of Jewish life on a single day since the Holocaust. He condemned the attack and subsequent actions by Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, highlighting the ongoing threats to Israel’s security.
Dutton also expressed concern over rising anti-Semitism, noting a surge in hate crimes against Jewish Australians following pro-Palestinian marches, some of which, he stated, endorsed Hamas’s actions. He recounted the disturbing scenes at the Sydney Opera House on 9 October, where a mob gathered, inciting fear among Jewish Australians.
The Opposition Leader emphasised his commitment to combating anti-Semitism, vowing to provide political leadership that fosters law, order, and social cohesion.
“Anti-Semitism is not only a threat to one segment of our community but a threat to our social cohesion, democratic values, and way of life,” Dutton said.
As the Jewish community marks Rosh Hashanah, Dutton concluded his message with a reflection on the Jewish people’s resilience, stating,
“May your celebration of Rosh Hashanah this year be a roar of courage and confidence – one which makes it clear that civilisation will not cower in the face of evil. In this, I join you in celebrating Rosh Hashanah.”
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, occurs in the fall at the beginning of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. This holiday is a time for both celebration and introspection, allowing individuals to reflect on the past year while acknowledging new beginnings.
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