As part of
Israel’s campaign to gain UN recognition of Yom Kippur as an official UN
holiday, and to celebrate the opening of the 70th Session of the
General Assembly, the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN, in partnership
with the Forum for Cultural Diplomacy, will hold the first ever Jewish ceremony
of Tashlich at the UN.
“Tashlich”,
Hebrew for “tossing”, is a ritual of casting off the wrongdoings of the
previous year into a flowing body of water, allowing it to carry away the
burdens of the past and start the year with a clean slate.
Among the
guests expected to attend, are several UN officials, ministers and ambassadors
from many countries, such as: United States, Australia, Canada, France,
Grenada, Tanzania and Sierra Leone. Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor,
will make opening remarks, followed by Mr. Tomas Sandell and Mr. Gregory
Lafitte of the Forum for Cultural Diplomacy. The Tashlich Ceremony will be
conducted on the bank of the East River by Senior Rabbi Arthur Schneier
of New York City’s Park East Synagogue.
The Tashlich
ceremony is a major event as part of the Campaign to gain UN recognition of Yom
Kippur as an official UN holiday. Last year the UN General Assembly recognized
its importance as the holiest day of the Jewish year.
Israel’s
Ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor: “The Jewish New Year coinciding with a new
year at the UN, is a chance for this institution to leave behind last year’s
conflicts, cast off the wrongdoings of the past, and start the 70th session of
the General Assembly with a clean slate. This week, Jews around the world will
celebrate the holiest day of the year. I’m glad that after 70 years, the UN,
which recognizes Christian and Muslim holidays, finally recognizes the
importance of Yom Kippur as well.”
The event will
take place on Monday, September 21st , 6:00 pm at the UN’s Rose Garden.
Media
interested in attending, please RSVP by replying to this email.