By More Matshediso
Pretoria - While South Africans across the country and abroad celebrate Heritage Day today, the Jewish community will gather in their homes and synagogues to usher in Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year.
“We wish our Jewish citizens well over the Fast and may all have a successful New Year,” President Jacob said on Tuesday in a statement.
The Presidency has commended the Jewish citizens for continuing to foster and live by their age-old traditions, while at the same time fully identifying with and contributing in multiple ways to the building of South Africa’s young democracy.
“It is a time both of solemn introspection and joyous renewal, of looking back and learning from the year that has past while celebrating and gathering strength for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” President Zuma said.
“It is fitting that Rosh Hashanah commences on the evening of Heritage Day, the public holiday through which South Africans celebrate their cultural diversity in a spirit of friendship and unity,” he said.
He said South Africa is a country where the different backgrounds - religious, cultural, linguistic or otherwise - are not merely tolerated but whole-heartedly affirmed. - SAnews.gov.za
