Message from the Grand Master of KMFAP to the Knights and Dames of Jewish Faith on the occasion of the celebrations of the Rosh Hashanah
 

FEDERATION OF THE AUTONOMOUS PRIORIES
SOVEREIGN ORDER OF SAINT JOHN OF JERUSALEM
KNIGHTS OF MALTA
Magisterial House
Leshanah tovah tikateiv veteichateim,
"May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."

Our World is presently living days of incredible and unacceptable violence and pure terror - falsely justified for religious reasons, because no religion can advocate the use of Terror to serve its God - so, it is now more important than ever before to celebrate days of fest and of Hope, which is the case for our dear Knights and Dames of the Jewish Faith, who, on the 2 first days of the month of Tishrei, celebrate their New Year of 5775 and the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, or, better saying, the birthday of the Mankind, highlightning the very special relationship between God the Humanity:

" We are Your people and You are our King " In these moments of violence, distress and terror is very important that our Knights and Dames of all Religions, celebrate the creation of the Mankind - NOT ITS DESTRUCTION -  and of the human brotherhood, since, independently from our religion, our birth condition and the colour of our skin, we are all equal children of Adam and Eve.   

The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the shofar, the ram's horn.  The 100 shofar blasts sounded on both days of Rosh Hashanah represent not only the trumpet blast of a people's coronation of God as their king, but represents also a call to repentance, because Rosh Hashanah is also the anniversary of man's first sin and his repentance thereof, and this serves as the first of the "Ten Days of Repentance" which will culminate in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. 

May the sound of this shofar encourage us all, our Knights and Dames from all religions, to think twice about our acts and our faults, and may the piece of apple dipped in honey, eaten on this occasion - which symbolizes our desire for a sweet year and for blessings, and abundance - make us all think about those who have nothing to eat, and for whom the year will not have blessings nor abundance:  

Baruch atah Adonay, Eloheinu Melech Ha Olam, hamotzie lechem min haaretz.   

Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

His Eminent Highness Jose, Prince      
Grand Master and Head of the State