Rosh Hashanah at the White House
'It's never too late to change and to be better. I've always believed that message and also believe it's universal.'
US President Joe Biden recalled the words of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks as he addressed the first ever High Holy Days reception at the White House last Friday.
The event was hosted in the East Room of the White House and was also attended by the First Lady, the Vice-President, and Jewish Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, along with local rabbis, Jewish friends and media.
“The late Rabbi Jonathan sacks who passed away two years ago, once said that the most important lesson of the High Holy Days is nothing is broken beyond repair,” said the President. “It’s never too late to change and to be better. I’ve always believed that message and also believe it’s universal. We’ve emerged from one of our most difficult moments in our history – I believe nothing is broken beyond repair, and there’s a lot we can do to change things and bring people together.”
The President noted his appreciation that the High Holy Days afford “a time to ask for forgiveness and repair our relationships”.
“The Jewish tradition holds that from the time the Book of Life is opened to the time it is sealed, our fate hangs in the balance. It’s in our hands to change, to do better … I hope for the year ahead we emerge stronger … It’s not required that you complete the work, but neither may you refrain from it … may we all be inscribed in the Book of Life.”
Emhoff also addressed the crowd, sharing fond memories of High Holy Days as a child spent at his grandmother’s house, of her homemade brisket and challah, and of being gently scolded “not to jump on the couch, I just took the plastic covers off”.
JEWISH NEWS UK
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