ROSH HASHANAH MESSAGE FROM EGEMEN BAGIS

Releasing a written statement on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah Feast, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis stated, “I would like to celebrate the Rosh Hashanah Feast of our Jewish citizens’, and I wish them many new years in prosperity and abundance.”.

In his message, Minister Bagis indicated the following:

“I would like to celebrate the Rosh Hashanah Feast of our Jewish citizens’ and I wish them many new years in prosperity and abundance. We believe that the Rosh Hashanah Feast celebrated in an atmosphere of brotherhood will be another occasion to unite common prayers for peace.

Our Jewish citizens have been one of the primary components of our society for centuries. They have contributed to the development of our country in terms of economy, trade, science, and culture. In Turkey, the relation among people with different beliefs represents one of the most beautiful examples of mutual understanding, harmony and coexistence today.

Turkey has a rich heritage in which all communities, regardless of their beliefs, can live their religious and cultural values and keep them alive. Our civilization represents an understanding that mosques, churches and synagogues can peacefully exist side by side on the same street. Turkey has been a land where the calls to prayer by these religions have risen without challenging each other’s freedom.  Even only Istanbul is a reflection of this civilization of love and resembles a strong plane tree in this respect.

The reason why different cultures have cherished in our country is because Anatolia embraced them with open arms. We have been living with our Jewish friends on these lands in unity for years and this attitude should give inspiration for the whole world. This everlasting love is the biggest assurance of our lands for the continuation of this culture of toleration.

With its rich civilization based on love and tolerance which has shed light on humanity for centuries through the understanding of ‘Love the created for the creator’s sake’, Turkey will decisively continue to sow new seeds of peace and fight with the seeds of hate.’

Indeed, it was this philanthropy that welcomed the Jewish people who were forced to make a choice between their beliefs and lives in 1492. Likewise, our people hosted many Jewish people who took shelter under the severe and tragic circumstances of the World War II. The Jewish community saw themselves as a part of Turkey.

With these in mind, I would like to celebrate the Rosh Hashanah Feast of our Jewish citizens and I hope that the prayers will unite for peace throughout the world and in the Middle East, especially in Syria and Egypt.