Pollie’s Rosh Hashanah greetings

Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister

Shana Tova u’metukah – a sweet and happy new year – to our Australian Jewish community, as you mark your precious season of High Holy Days.

For generations, Australian Jewish communities have united in the traditions of faith. Sustained and strengthened by continuity, you have shared in the struggles and triumphs of our nation and enriched the culture and society we cherish.

Australia is home not only to the world’s oldest continuing culture, but communities who bring their beliefs and experiences from around the world. From this we find the enduring value of our pluralism – in the great spectrum of Australia’s religious and cultural diversity, we find our strength.

After two years of chagim disrupted by border closures and lockdowns, I’m delighted that this year heralds a return to families and friends coming together in synagogues and around meal tables.

Your spirit of unity and community will continue to be a light to Australia as we face a year filled with new opportunities and challenges.

May this season and year ahead be as sweet as the symbolic apple dipped in honey.

Shana Tova!

Peter Dutton, Federal Opposition Leader

On behalf of the Coalition and the federal opposition, I extend best wishes to all Australians of Jewish faith, for a happy new year.

Rosh Hashanah, celebrations of the Jewish new year, is a time for rejoicing and introspection.

This is one of the holiest periods on the Jewish calendar – an occasion for reflection and atonement, before looking ahead, with hope, to the coming year.

Rosh Hashanah is a reminder of the importance of contemplation, gratitude, and optimism.

As you pray at your local synagogue, listen to the blowing of the hollowed-out ram’s horn – the shofar – light candles in your homes, and gather as families for meals, you will renew the same strength and resilience that has defined the Jewish people for centuries.

The Australian Jewish community enriches our society.

We believe in the sanctity of the family and the strength of the community.

While in recent years, the COVID pandemic has kept many of you from joining together for Rosh Hashanah, I hope this year you can come together with your loved ones to honour the past and celebrate the future.

I wish you all joy and success as you welcome in the new year.

Shana Tova!

Dominic Perrottet, NSW Premier

Dominic Perrottet.

Happy new year to the readers of The AJN, as you celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

This time last year, with a new COVID outbreak putting Australia in lockdown, Rosh Hashanah’s message of hope was much needed in our community.

Since then, more outbreaks, devastating floods, and uncertain economic conditions have come our way.

Nevertheless, we kept on with the job, and our Jewish community has played a vital role in helping the NSW government achieve important progress, from adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism, to banning the public display of Nazi symbols, and creating a NSW Religious Communities Advisory Council.

As international travel resumed, the Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Alister Henskens, led a mission to Israel that will benefit both our nations.

And I had the honour of paying tribute to a great Australian, Eddie

Jaku, in Parliament.

Without The AJN providing a voice for the Jewish community in NSW, these achievements would not have been possible.

While challenges remain, we have cause for great hope, and more progress, in the year ahead.

On behalf of my government, I look forward to continuing our work together, and I wish you and your family a blessed new year.

L’shana tova u’metukah!

Chris Minns, NSW Opposition Leader

Chris Minns.

On behalf of NSW Labor, I wish the Australian Jewish community a happy and healthy Rosh Hashanah.

The new year is a time to reflect on the challenges and achievements of the past 12 months, as well as an opportunity for a fresh start as we look to the year ahead.

After the disruptions over the last two years prevented many families from celebrating together in traditional ways, I hope the Jewish community in NSW is able to mark this special occasion by sharing in the joy and love of family and friends.

The Australian Jewish community continues to make an important contribution to our community and civic life in NSW.

I look forward to continuing to work with your community in the coming year and beyond.

Shana Tova! And all the best for the year ahead.

Daniel Andrews, Victorian Premier

I’d like to wish every member of Victoria’s Jewish community a very happy new year.

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the High Holy Days – and it’s a time filled with renewal and the promise of a good year ahead.

It’s also an opportunity to reflect on the enormous contribution Victoria’s Jewish community makes to our state. Every day, you show kindness, leadership and compassion – and in doing so, you help make our state an inclusive place for all Victorians.

From my family to yours, thank you, and I hope you have a happy and sweet new year.

Shana Tova.

Matthew Guy, Victorian Opposition Leader

I am delighted to send my best wishes to Victoria’s Jewish community and the readers of The Australian Jewish News on the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh Hashanah is an important date in the Jewish religious calendar. It is a time for community members to reflect on the past year and renew their hopes for the year ahead. Significant occasions such as this also remind us of the importance of community and the strength of Victoria’s diversity.

This year’s Rosh Hashanah comes to us without the enormous challenges faced by so many in the Jewish community, especially the elderly and most vulnerable members, due to the onset of COVID-19 restrictions.

In Victoria, we are fortunate to be home to a vibrant and energetic Jewish community, which has shown great dedication and generosity in preserving and sharing its rich cultural traditions. I thank the community for their significant contribution to enriching our diverse, harmonious and vibrant society.

Victoria is a thriving multicultural and multi-faith society, where mutual respect, understanding and goodwill continue to ensure our prosperity and harmony into the future.

The Liberal Nationals firmly believe Victoria’s incredible diversity of beliefs and cultures has significantly enriched our society. Victoria’s Jewish community and other multicultural community organisations play an essential role in helping maintain our state’s reputation as an accepting and tolerant place where all Victorians can celebrate their heritage.

I wish the readers of The Australian Jewish News and Victoria’s Jewish community a happy and prosperous new year.