Campaign To Make Yom Kippur An Official United Nations Holiday Backed By 32 Countries

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AP | By Edith M. Lederer

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Thirty-two countries have written to a U.N. General Assembly committee asking the United Nations to recognize Judaism's holiest day, Yom Kippur, as an official holiday.

The letter to the assembly's Committee on Conferences, circulated on Wednesday, says the U.N. "recognizes the major festivals of many of the world's main religions, yet Judaism is not represented."

"We believe that the United Nations calendar should reflect the organization's founding principles of coexistence, justice and mutual respect," the 32 countries said. "We urge the United Nations to correct this inequity and recognize the holiest day of the Jewish faith."

Israel launched a campaign in May to make Yom Kippur a U.N. holiday.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/31/yom-kippur-un-holiday_n_5637831.html?utm_hp_ref=religion