For millennia, Jewish communities have marked Yom Kippur as an occasion to reflect and pray; fast and seek forgiveness; account for past transgressions, and commit to future change.

At its core, this sacred and solemn day reaffirms a universal principle at the essence of our humanity: that, through word and deed, we each have the ability to right wrongs, mend rifts, and heal wounds. That every place where we have fallen short provides an opportunity for growth, and that by acknowledging shortcomings with honesty and humility, before our Creator and to one another, we can forge a more promising future – for ourselves, for our communities, and for our country.  

In that spirit, Jill and I extend our very best wishes for an easy and meaningful fast to all who observe Yom Kippur in the United States, Israel, and around the world. May we each be sealed in the Book of Life.

G’mar Chatimah Tovah.

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