We must do everything to prevent war – Netanyahu

News Desk

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this morning (Sunday, 16 September 2018), at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting said, We must do everything to prevent war. Its victims destroy the lives of families and they are a gaping wound in the heart of the nation. However, if war is forced upon us, we must do everything to win with minimal losses.

Prime Minister’s Media Adviser told Blitz, Mr. Netanyahu said, “This week we will mark, in synagogues and cemeteries, Yom Kippur, the holiest day of our people, and the day on which, 45 years ago, we absorbed a bloody attack that cost us thousands of victims.

“We must do everything to prevent war. Its victims destroy the lives of families and they are a gaping wound in the heart of the nation. However, if war is forced upon us, we must do everything to win with minimal losses”, he added.

The Prime Minister said, “Forty-five years ago, intelligence erred by holding to a mistaken assessment regarding the war intentions of Egypt and Syria. When these intentions became clear beyond all doubt, and when the danger was on our very doorstep, the political leadership made a grievous mistake by not allowing a pre-emptive strike. We will never repeat this mistake.

“At the same time, Israel is constantly working to prevent our enemies from arming themselves with advanced weaponry. Our red lines are as sharp as ever and our determination to enforce them is stronger than ever.

“Regarding the talk about shortening terrorists’ sentences – I strongly oppose this. I know that this is also the position of the Defense Minister and, therefore, it will not happen.

“A good year, written and sealed for good, to the entire Jewish people.”

Jewish Yom Kippur begins on September 18, 2018 and ends on the same day. Yom Kippur is “the tenth day of [the] seventh month [Tisheri]  and is regarded as the “Sabbath of Sabbaths”. Rosh Hashanah [referred to in the Torah as Yom Teruah] is the first day of that month according to the Hebrew calendar. On this day forgiveness of sins is also asked of God.

Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora’im [“Days of Awe”] that commences with Rosh Hashanah.

According to Jewish tradition, God inscribes each person’s fate for the coming year into a book, the Book of Life, on Rosh Hashanah, and waits until Yom Kippur to “seal” the verdict. During the Days of Awe, a Jew tries to amend his or her behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God [bein adam leMakom] and against other human beings [bein adam lechavero]. The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt [Vidul]. At the end of Yom Kippur, one hopes that they have been forgiven by God.

The Yom Kippur prayer service includes several unique aspects. One is the actual number of prayer services. Unlike a regular day, which has three prayer services [Ma’ariv, the evening prayer; Shacharit, the morning prayer; and Mincha, the afternoon prayer], or a Shabbat or Yom Tov, which have four prayer services [Ma’ariv; Shacharit; Mussaf, the additional prayer; and Mincha], Yom Kippur has five prayer services Ma’ariv;  Shacharit;  Musaf; Mincha; and Ne’ilah, the closing prayer. The prayer services also include private and public confessions of sins [Vidul} and a unique prayer dedicated to the special Yom Kippur Avodah [service] of the Kohen Gadol [high priest] in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

Yom Kippur is observed by Jews, Samaritans, and some Christian groups. The significance of Yom Kippur is atonement for personal and national sins, fate of each person is sealed for the upcoming year. The observances are fasting, prayer, abstaining from physical pleasures, and refraining from work.