On the occasion of the Jewish New Year, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán greeted members of the Jewish community in Hungary in a message. He wished everyone a new year with less hardship and more joy in a message written to the leaders of Jewish organisations in Hungary, Bertalan Havasi, the Deputy Prime Minister heading the Press Office of the Prime Minister informed the Hungarian news agency MTI on Thursday afternoon.

The Prime Minister’s message was delivered to President of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities András Heisler, Executive Rabbi of the Unified Hungarian Jewish Congregation Slomó Köves, President of the Autonomous Orthodox Jewish Community of Hungary Eduárd Deblinger and President of the Jewish Heritage in Hungary Public Endowment György Szabó, the press chief added.

In his greetings, Mr Orbán said the beginning of a new year always symbolises hope, and in these trying times which have put every single person on Earth to test, we need to look forward to the new year with our heads held high, holding onto the strong roots of our religious and cultural traditions more than ever.

“On the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, I wish all Jewish compatriots a sweet new year, one that will bring less hardship and more joy,” Mr Orbán concluded his message.

The Jewish New Year starts on 19 September according to the Gregorian calendar, in practice, already at sunset on 18 September. According to the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah is taking place on the first and second days of the month of Tishrei in the year 5781; it is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve when they also commemorate Man’s created nature and dependence upon God.

(MTI/Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister)