Ahead of Simchat Torah and the fear of clashes between worshipers and citizens who oppose prayer in the public space, President Isaac Herzog issues a call to the citizens of Israel and calls on everyone to behave with restraint and containment.
Herzog's accounts on social media read: "Even as children in a non-religious Tel Aviv neighborhood, we celebrated the joyous and unifying custom of Hakafot (circumambulation) with love and mutual respect, and so did thousands of others like us all over the country. These are real, honest, and intimate events of love for Israel, which have become the property of all sections of the people. I always felt that it was a deep and compelling part of our personal and national identity."
"This year, during the Tishrei holidays, we experienced with great pain a number of incidents of preventing prayer; Events that burned the heart and were unimaginable and unacceptable. In preparation for the circumambulation that we will celebrate tonight and tomorrow all over the country, I am personally addressing you, citizens of Israel, to each and every one of you, and calling to behave with consideration, inclusion, respect, and love for Israel during the Hakafot and in general, and to allow us all, together, the feeling of the holiday and joy. No provocations, no disturbances, no fights."
"Let's decide - enough with raising our voices, enough with raising our hands! In the joy of the Torah, we must put our differences aside and return to the pure and blessed joy of the beginning of the new year and with it the round of reading the weekly Parasha. Happy Holiday."
