Israel’s president has sent out a greeting ahead of Rosh Hashanah saying he is praying for the wellbeing of the Jewish people who he called his “extended family”.

Speaking in a video message recorded at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem and issued ahead of the start of the New Year of 5782, President Isaac Herzog said he wishes everyone “a year of health and coming together”.

He said: "The cyclical nature of Judaism allows us, the Jewish People, the opportunity to connect to our collective soul and to start anew. Each of us has the privilege to chart our own individual course, and yet at the same time, we depend on each other: on our community, on our congregation, on the power of each of our tefillot, prayers.

"So on this Rosh Hashanah, and as we are heading into Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, I will be praying for the wellbeing of my immediate family as well as my extended family: the people of Israel and the Jewish People at large.

“I wish you all, dear brothers and sisters from around the world, a year of health and of coming together.”

President Herzog also expressed his hope that he will soon be seeing Jews from around the world visit Israel as soon as possible, after a year in which air travel has been disrupted and sometimes virtually impossible due to pandemic restrictions.

He said: “Take care of each other and know that Israel is your home away from home and we are all looking forward to seeing you in our beloved country, Israel. May you all be inscribed in the Book of Life, and may you all enjoy a happy, healthy, and joyous new year."