President Reuvlin Rivlin held the annual reception for Israel's Christian communities, marking the solar New Year. Among the guests of honor were Jerusalem's Greek Orthodox Patriarch, the heads of various churches, and members of the government.
President Rivlin began his speech by referring to the Catholic Church's efforts to put its anti-Semitic past behind it: "I was honored this year, to meet with the Pope in the Vatican, where we spoke about how this relationship has grown stronger over the years. I appreciate very much what he said against anti-Semitism, and against converting Jews. His message of understanding and acceptance reflects both Christian and Jewish ideas – 'Love your neighbor, like yourself'. Pope Francis said, 'A true Christian cannot be an anti-Semite'. Let me say – a faithful Jew cannot be anti-Christian or anti-Muslim. The Ten Commandments – holy to Jews and Christians – teach respect for God and respect for man. These values do not go against each other, they go with each other. At the same time, the Jewish and democratic values of Israel go hand in hand."
He added, "I am proud that Israel protects the freedom of worship and expression for everyone, of every faith. It is not enough for us to only be a safe home for Christians. We want the community to prosper, and play a part in Israeli society."