Eternal God, our Creator and Liberator, today on Rosh Ha-Shanah, the birthday of the world, we pause to remember Your children across the world whose lives are blighted by the curses of poverty and persecution.

We think of the many millions in flight from tyranny, violence and destitution, risking their lives as they make their escape in the hope of finding refuge and security elsewhere.

In particular, our thoughts turn at this time to the 400,000 Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, driven from their homes as their villages are burnt to the ground as part of a deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing.

Let us pause to reflect

Eternal Teacher of Your people Israel, as the children and grandchildren and descendants of refugees, aware of Your teachings of justice and our sacred obligations towards the stranger, we express our commitment before You now to open our hearts and our hands and our communities to welcome those in need of refuge, and to do what we can to contribute to the alleviation of their suffering. And let us say: Amen.

Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah