President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova sent a message to the President of the Jewish Community, Pepo Levi, and to all its members, on the occasion of the observance of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.
Dear Mr. Pepo Levi,
Allow me to extend to you personally, as well as to all members of the Jewish Community in Macedonia over which you preside, sincere wishes for spiritual peace, health and well-being, with deep respect for Yom Kippur!
Yom Kippur, the holiest and most sublime holiday in the Jewish spiritual tradition, is a day of silence and prayer, of fasting and introspection, of repentance and forgiveness.
On this day, one withdraws from the daily clamor and, with a sincere and humble heart, confronts one’s own conscience, actions and the responsibility one holds toward one’s neighbor, family and community.
Our human greatness lies not in perfection or sinlessness, but in the courage to admit a mistake, to reflect upon ourselves, to seek forgiveness and to find the strength to forgive.
This day reminds us that reconciliation is not only a religious value, but also a fundamental human and civilizational one. In a world witnessing division, intolerance and alienation, the values of Yom Kippur serve as a call for humanity, dignity and mutual respect.
Let us work together to build Macedonian society into a place where every individual can freely and with dignity live out their faith, traditions and cultural identity, and where differences serve as bridges of understanding rather than lines of division.
Dr. Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova
