[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 38 (Monday, September 23, 1996)]
[Page 1793]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message on the Observance of Yom Kippur, 1996

September 18, 1996

    Warm greetings to everyone observing Yom Kippur, this holiest of 
Jewish holidays.
    On this day, Jews across our nation and around the world gather to 
pray for forgiveness and to atone for any transgressions they may have 
committed against God and their fellow human beings. It is during this 
solemn observance that people who have been torn by differences seek 
reconciliation with friends, family, and neighbors in an earnest effort 
to improve their lives and to strengthen their relationships with 
others.
    With its emphasis on collective responsibility, Yom Kippur is a 
powerful reminder that what we do as individuals has a profound effect 
on our entire community. The choices we make, whether shortsighted or 
wise, self-centered or generous, make a difference not only in our own 
lives but in the lives of our families, our community, and our nation.
    Let us remember, therefore, that renewal is still within our reach, 
that humility before God will help us to recognize and conquer whatever 
is unworthy in our society and bring us closer to our Creator and to one 
another. Let us realize that whatever success we may attain will be 
meaningful only if it is used in service to others. And let this Yom 
Kippur be a time for us to reaffirm our commitment to family, to 
community, and to a world of peace and opportunity for all.
    Best wishes for a blessed Yom Kippur.
                                                  Bill Clinton