"G'mar chatima tova, an easy and meaningful fast, to all in the Jewish community preparing for Yom Kippur this evening.
"Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. It is a day when we both ask forgiveness for ourselves and give it to others. Compassion, empathy, and reconciliation are critical on the path toward healing. On this day and moving forward, let us acknowledge and empathize with the experiences and challenges of those around us, granting one another grace in the face of our failings.
"The call to atone resonates throughout our lives and communities, urging that we lift one another up in the year to come. May G-d bestow blessings, mercy and absolution on all seeking redemption, and may we all be sealed in the Book of Life."