A Message from Mayor Shapiro

Currently, the Jewish community here and across the world is celebrating the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is a time of feasting and fasting, prayer and inspiration. It is a time of reflection when many worship and pray for both forgiveness and for renewed hopes for new Jewish year. This year, the Jewish holidays come at a poignant time. They come during the first anniversary of the terrorist attack in Israel where more than 1,200 people were killed and hundreds more were taken hostage, many of whom are still being held.

Since that time, war has ravaged in the Middle East, tens of thousands have died or have been displaced. Despite occurring halfway across the world, residents in our Village have friends or relatives who have been impacted by the war. Each day, they anxiously await a glimmer of good news hoping to be able to breathe comfort that there will soon be peace. There have also been ugly and inexcusable incidents of antisemitism and islamophobia carelessly and dangerously cast without regard to their evil nature or lasting consequences. Our community will always stand against hatred. It has no place in Deerfield or anywhere.

So, now, at this difficult moment, I wish those who celebrate the Jewish holidays comfort and a happy and healthy new year.