"We stand firmly by your side": New Year wishes from world leaders

Leaders from around the world, including Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Merz, and UK Prime Minister Burnham, published Rosh Hashanah greetings to Jewish communities. Zelenskyy wished for peace and harmony amid the war, Merz emphasized Germany's standing with Jews against antisemitism, and Burnham recalled the attack on the Heaton Park synagogue and pledged community security.

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5787, leaders and heads of state published greetings and wishes to Jewish communities in their countries and to celebrants worldwide. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who comes from a Jewish family, sent a greeting on his X account in which he wished for peace, goodness, and harmony, and called for a year full of light and humanity that triumphs over evil, amid the ongoing fighting against Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized in his greeting Germany's resolute standing alongside the Jewish community against antisemitism, noting that vibrant Jewish life is an integral part of an open society. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham greeted the Jewish community in Britain, recalling the attack on the Heaton Park synagogue on Yom Kippur last year, in which Melvin Kravitz and Adrian Dolby were murdered. Burnham, who served as Mayor of Greater Manchester at the time of the attack, described the anxiety the attack caused and pledged to work every day to ensure the safety of Jews.