At the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, our six bishops have sent their greetings to Jewish communities in the region.
The message acknowledges the continuing threat of antisemitism, and welcomes programmes such as Near Neighbours which bring different religious communities together.
The message reads:
It gives us great pleasure to be able to offer again our warm greetings and best wishes to all our Jewish friends, neighbours and colleagues at the start of your New Year and the marking of the High Holy Days.
We are grateful for all the positive, local relationships that have flourished over the past year, not least through the work of the Near Neighbours programme in Leeds and Bradford and particularly involving young people. At a time in which antisemitism continues to infect communities across Europe bringing violence and fear, we welcome these and other opportunities to work in our churches, schools and neighbourhoods to oppose prejudice and to help communities better understand and respect the valuable Jewish contribution to our local, regional and national life.
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us in the year ahead. Shanah Tovah!
Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds (Diocesan Bishop)
Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford
Rt Revd Tony Robinson, Bishop of Wakefield
Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs, Bishop of Huddersfield
Rt Revd James Bell, Bishop of Ripon
Rt Revd Paul Slater, Bishop of Richmond