Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi thanks President for initiative to grant official status to Jewish religious holidays

He said this at a meeting with Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva on Monday, the president’s press service reported.

"The Rebbe highly appreciated the initiative of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on granting state status to Jewish religious holidays. On behalf of the Jewish community, he conveyed gratitude to the Head of State for this important decision," the report says.

For his part, Zhovkva noted the important role of the Jewish community of Ukraine in the development of the Ukrainian state and the establishment of the principles of multiconfessional tolerance and openness in society.

The interlocutors discussed topical issues of a Ukrainian-Israeli dialogue. Ihor Zhovkva thanked Moshe Reuven Azman for his significant work in recognizing Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky as Righteous Among the Nations.

As Ukrinform reported, on July 30, President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to consider the issue of granting official status to certain religious holidays, in particular, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Pesach, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Easter of Western Christians and others.

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