Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Ministry Launches Virtual Rosh Hashanah Initiative
(Communicated by the Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Ministry Spokesman)

The Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Ministry, ahead of Rosh Hashana http://goisrael.com/Tourism_Eng/Tourist%20Information/Jewish%20Themes/Holidays/Pages/Rosh%20Hashanah.aspx  presents a special initiative, http://www.ShanaTova.org  in the framework of which Jews from around the world may send holiday greetings to each other via a customized electronic postcard, including a personalized message, which it is also possible to post on Facebook. The postcard will arrive via email in the language of the sender's choice.

This year, the initiative, which is being held for the second year in a row, also includes the possibility of sending the postcard to one's friends on Facebook as well as by email, thus offering a free, colorful, original and special alternative to the existing custom of sending holiday greetings via SMS or regular mail.

The system allows for translation into seven languages (Hebrew, English, French, Russian, Spanish, Italian and German) and enables each user to send and receive greetings in his or her own language without knowledge of the other side's language.

Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein, who initiated the project said, "In order to find a creative solution toward enhancing links between Israel and the Diaspora, we took the time-honored custom of sending Rosh Hashanah greeting cards and updated it for the Internet world of today. We have added the element of surprise and uncertainty in order to encourage the creation of new links. The sender chooses the form and the greeting and sends a personalized postcard, but does not know who will
receive it and in what language it will be read. But it does not end there; shortly after the greeting card is sent, the same sender will wait for another postcard from someone in another country who has done the same exact thing. I believe that this way links will be strengthened and a direct personal correspondence will be created to send the message that we are all together, part of a great and wonderful story called the Jewish People. Perhaps by next year, there will be moving and surprising stories thanks to this initiative."