President Barack Obama reflected on the High Holy days and offered New Year’s greetings in a conference call with nearly 1,000 rabbis.

During the call on Aug. 30, Obama extended greetings from himself and the first lady for a sweet, happy and healthy New Year. He noted that the Jewish High Holy Days provide an opportunity for Jews to reflect on the past year and recommit themselves to core values.

Rosh Hashanah began on the evening of Sept. 4.

With the United States marking the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, Obama also noted the important role played by American Jews in the civil rights movement, discussed the upcoming enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act and spoke about the renewed Israel-Palestinian peace talks.

Four major rabbinical organizations hosted the call: the Central Conference of American Rabbis (Reform); the Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative); the Rabbinical Council of America (Orthodox); and the Reconstruct-ionist Rabbinical Association. — jta