Pope’s greetings for Jewish holy days

(September 21, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI has expressed hope that Christians and Jews would bear witness to the whole world of the values that stem from adoring the one God. On the occasion of the Jewish High Holy Days, the Pope sent a message to Rome’s Chief Rabbi Riccardo di Segni, expressing his "heartfelt best wishes" to the city’s Jewish community for Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. "I hope that Jews and Christians, growing in respect and mutual friendship, may bear witness to the world of the values that spring from the adoration of the one God," the pope said in the telegram. With the Sept. 16 celebration of Rosh Hashana, Jews marked the beginning of the Jewish year 5773. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is celebrated 10 days later. The days in between are called the "days of awe" and are when Jews face up to their mistakes, make amends, resolve to live better in the coming year, and ask forgiveness from others and God. Sukkot, which begins this year at sundown Sept. 30, is the Jewish celebration of the harvest.