(Jewish Group) Statement from President Joe Biden on Yom Kippur

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Link to tweet

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/24/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-yom-kippur/

Statement from President Joe Biden on Yom Kippur
HOME
BRIEFING ROOM
STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
As Jewish communities in the United States, Israel, and around the world observe Yom Kippur, Jill and I extend our best wishes on this sacred and solemn holiday.

Jewish tradition holds that from the time the Book of Life is opened on Rosh Hashanah, until the gates close on Yom Kippur, our fate hangs in the balance. From the powerful Kol Nidre service, to the haunting Neilah prayer, and until the piercing sound of the final shofar blast, worshippers are given an opportunity to humbly atone for past misdeeds, repair broken relationships, and commit to doing better in the future.

The blessing of Yom Kippur is that it is not just a day of reflection, repentance, and reverence – but a day of transformation, forgiveness, and hope. God invites us to write a new chapter in the story of our lives, and in the life of our nation. As the High Holidays conclude, let us all summon the courage to make the changes required to bridge the gap between the world we see and the world we seek.

On behalf of my family and my entire Administration, we wish you a meaningful and easy fast. May we all be sealed in the Book of Life.

G’mar Chatimah Tova.

###

[NNadir]

1. It's funny, but I have never known a gracious way to acknowledge this day until Biden found it.

"...we wish you a meaningful and easy fast..."

I grew up close to Jewish culture, but I never actually knew what to say to acknowledge Yom Kippur.

I'm not really a Christian, but as I noted here, I still celebrate a similar holiday of reflection, Good Friday.

Many of my coworkers are Hindus and don't know all that much about Christianity, and I've had some wish me a "Happy Good Friday."

It's not like I'm particularly religious in a phenomenological sense, and let it slide, but Good Friday is not a happy holiday.

I wish our Jewish colleagues here ...a meaningful and easy fast...

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Thank you and some more information for you...

...this is a few years old, but the information is quite relevant.

A more traditional greeting, and one specific to Yom Kippur, is “Gmar hatimah tovah,” or “Gmar tov,” which roughly translates to “a good seal.” Those observing the holiday believe that the book of life, which determines an individual’s fate for the coming year, opens on Rosh Hashanah, and is sealed at the end of Yom Kippur following the period of repentance.

source

Frankly, IMO, that you even attempt to learn is a big plus in my book!