This Rosh Hashana is unlike any other we remember. It is impossible to separate our feelings and emotions from the events of 7 October last year and everything Israel, the region and the Jewish world has gone through since. Our principal thoughts are with all of those most closely affected and, in particular, the remaining hostages, their families and the dead, wounded and displaced by this dreadful war.
This time last year, we were contemplating our long held ambition to launch a presence in Israel. It was part of an effort to look after our Israeli clients better, help our non-Israeli clients navigate the country and work closer and in a more organised way with our friends and colleagues in the Israeli legal industry and beyond. After 7 October, we had to decide whether this was the right time to commit to the project and, in many ways, it only re-confirmed our ambition. Out firm's historic connections with Israel, our representation of the interests of the global Jewish community and our desire to assist in building bridges through law and business across the region and across cultures were the foundation for carrying on with the plan. We are glad we did. Against the worst possible backdrop, we have been uplifted by the collaborations, new and renewed friendships and unexpected opportunities that we have encountered. In particular, it was lovely to catch up with so many friends at our launch event in July and I look forward to increasing the quality and pace of our opportunities in the next few years with the assistance of Noa Mayer who has brought class and organisation to the chaos of our previous engagement in Israel.
Throughout the year, we have been extremely humbled by our representation of the UK connected hostages and their families. Their resilience, grace and determination have profoundly affected everyone who has met them as have our encounters with so many others working for the same cause. So, even if sweetness feels a stretch too far, our fervent prayers and hopes for 5785 are for the safe return of the hostages and a peace that will allow everyone in the region to live safely with their families and in their homes.