Rosh Hashanah Pm 2009

September 18, 2009

Greetings from the Prime Minister

As families across Canada gather to observe Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I am delighted to extend my best wishes for a wonderful New Year. The beginning of the Jewish New Year provides an opportunity to take stock of the year just past, reflect on the blessings you share and to look to the future with optimism and hope. As Canadians, it is also a moment to reflect upon the values of pluralism and tolerance that remain our country’s greatest strengths. Canada is an unyielding defender of religious freedom. I know Jewish Canadians treasure this liberty that allows people of different faiths to worship in peace and live together in harmony. Through the acts of celebration, repentance and renewal that characterize the High Holidays, Jewish Canadians are honouring the rich traditions of their ancestors and ensuring they endure for generations to come. On behalf of the Government of Canada, Laureen and I extend our warmest wishes for a blessed, happy and healthy New Year. Shana Tova!

The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada