Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sends a message of congratulations to Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year
The message reads, in part:
"Jewish people all over the world link this holiday with spiritual improvement and renewal, the continuation of the wonderful tradition to show love for others and to give help and support to those in need. Over the ages, the intransient values inherent to this ancient religion have served noble goals, including bringing people closer together and strengthening trust and mutual understanding between them.
"I am confident that Russia's Jewish community will continue to make a substantial contribution to preserving the cultural diversity of the Russian Federation, to take an active part in implementing vital educational initiatives and in charity work, to promote religious tolerance among Russian citizens, as well as benevolent relations between representatives of different religious faiths.
"I wish you and all Jewish people a happy New Year, prosperity and joyful holidays."
