Zuma wishes Jewish community happy new year

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday wished South Africa's Jewish community a happy Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

"On 24 September [Wednesday], Heritage Day, the Jewish community will be gathering in their homes and synagogues to usher in Rosh Hashanah," Zuma said in a statement.

"It is a time both of solemn introspection and joyous renewal, of looking back and learning from the year that has passed while celebrating and gathering strength for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

"We commend our Jewish citizens for continuing to foster and live by their age-old traditions whilst at the same time fully identifying with and contributing in multiple ways to the building of our young democracy."

Zuma said it was fitting that Rosh Hashanah commenced on the evening of Heritage Day, the public holiday through which South Africans celebrated their cultural diversity in a spirit of friendship and unity.

"Ours is a country where the different backgrounds - religious, cultural, linguistic or otherwise - are not merely tolerated but wholeheartedly affirmed," the president said.

"We wish our Jewish citizens well over the Fast and may all have a successful New Year."