Dear Friends of Israel,

The biblical holiday of Rosh HaShanah, Hebrew for head of the year - or New Year - begins this evening and is observed for two days. This holiday marks the beginning of the High Holy Days, which culminate with Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement. The ten days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are a period of self-examination and repentance. Five days after Yom Kippur, the holiday of Sukkot, or Tabernacles, begins. Tabernacles commemorates the time the Israelites lived in booths on their way from Egypt to the land of Israel. The observance of these three holidays is detailed in Leviticus 23:23-44.

Immediately following the end of Sukkot is a holiday known as Simchat Torah or Rejoicing with/of the Torah. This day of celebration is marked by singing and dancing as the annual cycle of Torah reading ends with the final portion of Deuteronomy and begins with the first portion of Genesis. 

This year Simchat Torah falls on October 15 on the Gregorian calendar. However, in 2023, this joyful holiday fell on October 7th - the day Hamas and other genocidal terrorists in Gaza launched their horrific attack on the people of southern Israel. For almost two years now, Israel has been at war against those terrorists for the stated purposes of 1) the destruction of Hamas' ability to ever again be able to carry out repeat attacks like those of October 7th and 2) the rescue of all hostages taken on that terrible day.  

As of now, the Israel Defense Forces have destroyed most of the terrorists' capabilities and are in control of the vast majority of the Gaza Strip. However, the remaining Hamas forces are headquartered in Gaza City, which is also where most, if not all, of the remaining living hostages are being held.

Of the 251 hostages taken by the terrorists on October 7th, 2023, 48 still remain in Gaza. It is estimated that up to 20 of them are still alive, held in unimaginable conditions of deprivation, torture and intentional starvation. For the purpose of rescuing all remaining hostages - the living and the dead - and to finish the job of eliminating Hamas' capabilities to ever again attack Israel, IDF forces have begun a ground incursion into Gaza City to eliminate terror infrastructure such as tunnels, weapon depots, and terrorist cells.  

This stage of Israel's defensive war against Hamas is the most dangerous for IDF troops because of the extensive use of deadly booby traps laid by terrorists who fight from the cover of tunnels and behind human shields. Tragically, a number of IDF soldiers have already lost their lives in the first few days of the advance into Gaza City. 

As we begin the biblical new year, we look forward to a complete victory over the forces of evil represented by the terrorists in Gaza. And we rejoice over the victories Israel has had in the past year:
- the destruction of much of Hamas' capabilities
- the serious degradation of Hezbollah’s capabilities in Lebanon
- the crippling of Iran's nuclear capabilities
- Israel's survival of the Iranian counterattack with miraculously few fatalities
- the neutralizing of threats on the northern border with Syria
 

In recognition of the significance of the High Holy Days ahead,
CAMERA's Partnership of Christians and Jews wishes all our Jewish friends
a very good and sweet new year! 
 

SHANAH TOVAH U'METUKAH!