United Nations Secretary General António Guterres took part last week in a Tashlich ceremony on the bank of the Hudson River ahead of the Jewish New Year.
In Tashlich (literally "casting away"), the sins of the past year are "cast away" on a body of water, often in the form of bread.
After being introduced by Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon, Guterres told those present at the event, "It is a pleasure to join you for this ceremony, at which we symbolically cast the sins of the past year into the water.
"As a native of Portugal, where the ocean and the water are such a fundamental part of our culture, I find a ceremony like this very special, indeed.
"As the secretary general of the United Nations, I welcome this opportunity to reflect on the gains and setbacks of the past year, and can see that we can better serve the world's people in the period ahead."
Guterres said that he wanted to offer his best wishes to the Jewish people. "Shanah tova! Happy New Year! May we all enjoy peace and prosperity in the year ahead," the secretary general said.
Guterres added that with a new session of the U.N. General Assembly poised to open, it was also the start of a "new year" for the United Nations.
"In the spirit of Tashlich, I hope we can cast away the distrust and disagreements of the past year, and as we look ahead, I encourage member states and all our partners to work together for the common good and a better world for all," he said.
A number of U.N. ambassadors and officials also participated in the Tashlich ceremony.
