#1 ROSH HASHANAH

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release
September 17, 2009
www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Videotaped-Remarks-by-the-President-on-the-occasion-of-Rosh-Hashanah/

Below is a transcript of the President's videotaped remarks on the occasion
of Rosh Hashanah. To watch the video or read translations of this message,
please visit: www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Warm-Wishes-for-Rosh-Hashanah/.

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE OCCASION OF ROSH HASHANAH

As members of the Jewish faith here in America and around the world gather
to celebrate the High Holidays, I want to extend my warmest wishes for this
New Year. L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu - may you have a good year, and may you be
inscribed for blessing in the Book of Life.

Rosh Hashanah marks the start of a new year - a time of humble prayer,
joyful celebration, and hope for a new beginning. Ten days later, Yom Kippur
stands as a day of reflection and repentance. And this sacred time provides
not just an opportunity for individual renewal and reconciliation, but for
families, communities and even nations to heal old divisions, seek new
understandings, and come together to build a better world for our children
and grandchildren.

At the dawn of this New Year, let us rededicate ourselves to that work. Let
us reject the impulse to harden ourselves to others' suffering, and instead
make a habit of empathy - of recognizing ourselves in each other and
extending our compassion to those in need.

Let us resist prejudice, intolerance, and indifference in whatever forms
they may take -- let us stand up strongly to the scourge of anti-Semitism,
which is still prevalent in far too many corners of our world.

Let us work to extend the rights and freedoms so many of us enjoy to all the
world's citizens - to speak and worship freely; to live free from violence
and oppression; to make of our lives what we will.

And let us work to achieve lasting peace and security for the state of
Israel, so that the Jewish state is fully accepted by its neighbors, and its
children can live their dreams free from fear. That is why my Administration
is actively pursuing the lasting peace that has eluded Israel and its Arab
neighbors for so long.

Throughout history, the Jewish people have been, in the words of the Prophet
Isaiah, "a light unto the nations." Through an abiding commitment to faith,
family, and justice, Jews have overcome extraordinary adversity, holding
fast to the hope of a better tomorrow.

In this season of renewal, we celebrate that spirit; we honor a great and
ancient faith; and we rededicate ourselves to the work of repairing this
world.

Michelle and I wish all who celebrate Rosh Hashanah a healthy, peaceful and
sweet New Year.

#2 STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE OCCASION OF EID-UL-FITR
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release
September 19, 2009
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE OCCASION OF EID-UL-FITR
www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Statement-by-the-President-on-the-Occasion-of-Eid-ul-Fitr/
As Muslims in the United States and around the world complete the month of
Ramadan and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, Michelle and I would like to extend our
personal greetings on this joyous occasion. Eid is a time to celebrate the
completion of 30 days and nights of devotion. But even on this festive
occasion, Muslims remember those less fortunate, including those impacted by
poverty, hunger, conflict, and disease. Throughout the month, Muslim
communities collect and distribute zakat-ul-fitr so that all Muslims are
able to participate in this day of celebration. As I said in Cairo, my
Administration is working to ensure that Muslims are able to fulfill their
charitable obligations not just during Ramadan, but throughout the year. On
behalf of the American people, we congratulate Muslims in the United States
and around the world on this blessed day. Eid Mubarak.

#3 Remarks of President Barack Obama
Ramadan Message
Washington, DC
www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Ramadan_Message_of_President_Obama_English.pdf

On behalf of the American people - including Muslim communities in all fifty
states - I want to extend best wishes to Muslims in America and around the
world. Ramadan Kareem.

Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe the Koran was revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad, beginning with a simple word - iqra. It is therefore a
time when Muslims reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with
faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another, and to
God.

Like many people of different faiths who have known Ramadan through our
communities and families, I know this to be a festive time - a time when
families gather, friends host iftars, and meals are shared. But I also know
that Ramadan is a time of intense devotion and reflection - a time when
Muslims fast during the day and perform tarawih prayers at night, reciting
and listening to the entire Koran over the course of the month.

These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and
Islam's
role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human
beings.

For instance, fasting is a concept shared by many faiths - including my own
Christian faith - as a way to bring people closer to God, and to those among
us who cannot take their next meal for granted. And the support that Muslims
provide to others recalls our responsibility to advance opportunity and
prosperity for people everywhere. For all of us must remember that the world
we want to build - and the changes that we want to make - must begin in our
own hearts, and our own communities.

This summer, people across America have served in their communities -
educating children, caring for the sick, and extending a hand to those who
have fallen on hard times. Faith-based organizations, including many Islamic
organizations, have been at the forefront in participating in this summer of
service. And in these challenging times, this is a spirit of responsibility
that we must sustain in the months and years to come.

Beyond America's borders, we are also committed to keeping our
responsibility to build a world that is more peaceful and secure. That is
why we are responsibly ending the war in Iraq. That is why we are isolating
violent extremists while empowering the people in places like Afghanistan
and Pakistan. That is why we are unyielding in our support for a two-state
solution that recognizes the rights of Israelis and Palestinians to live in
peace and security. And that is why America will always stand for the
universal rights of all people to speak their mind, practice their religion,
contribute fully to society and have confidence in the rule of law.

All of these efforts are a part of America's commitment to engage Muslims
and Muslim-majority nations on the basis of mutual interest and mutual
respect. And at this time of renewal, I want to reiterate my commitment to a
new beginning between America and Muslims around the world.

As I said in Cairo, this new beginning must be borne out in a sustained
effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one
another, and to seek common ground. I believe an important part of this is
listening, and in the last two months, American embassies around the world
have reached out not just to governments, but directly to people in
Muslim-majority countries. From around the world, we have received an
outpouring of feedback about how America can be a partner on behalf of
peoples' aspirations.

We have listened. We have heard you. And like you, we are focused on
pursuing concrete actions that will make a difference over time - both in
terms of the political and security issues that I have discussed, and in the
areas that you have told us will make the most difference in peoples' lives.

These consultations are helping us implement the partnerships that I called
for in Cairo - to expand education exchange programs; to foster
entrepreneurship and create jobs; and to increase collaboration on science
and technology, while supporting literacy and vocational learning. We are
also moving forward in partnering with the OIC and OIC member states to
eradicate polio, while working closely with the international community to
confront common health challenges like H1N1 - which I know is of particular
to concern to many Muslims preparing for the upcoming hajj.

All of these efforts are aimed at advancing our common aspirations - to live
in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love
our families, our communities, and our God. It will take time and patient
effort. We cannot change things over night, but we can honestly resolve to
do what must be done, while setting off in a new direction - toward the
destination that we seek for ourselves, and for our children. That is the
journey that we must travel together.

I look forward to continuing this critically important dialogue and turning
it into action. And today, I want to join with the 1.5 billion Muslims
around the world - and your families and friends - in welcoming the
beginning of Ramadan, and wishing you a blessed month. May God's peace be
upon you.