I want to send my best wishes to everyone in Britain and around the world marking Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
These High Holy Days give us a chance to look back – and to look forward. To look back at theimmense contribution Jews make in Britain: excelling in every field, contributing in everycommunity, and living by those values – of decency, tolerance, hard work and responsibility– that are so central to the Jewish faith and to British life.
And they give us a chance to look forward to a future free from conflict and prejudice. Thatmeans lasting peace in the Middle East – a future where families don’t live in fear of rocketattacks. And it means wiping out prejudice in this country, because we will not tolerate anti-Semitism in Britain. No disagreements on politics or policy can ever justify racism orextremism in any form. As long as I’m Prime Minister, we will do everything we can to tacklethis, and to ensure we learn the lessons of the past, as the Holocaust Commission, led by MickDavies, is doing so effectively.
Around the world, Britain stands for diversity and cohesiveness. When mosques came underattack who helped defend them? British Jews. When a synagogue was under threat fromclosure, who helped save it? British Muslims. This says a lot about who we are in this country –and it’s something we can celebrate and build upon.
So as we look back and look ahead, let me wish everyone a happy New Year. G’mar Tov andShanah Tovah.
