On the Isaiah wall, overlooking the United Nations Headquarters, the hopeful words of that Hebrew prophet are etched in the granite stone.
"Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."Isaiah's inspiring vision of world peace and fraternity among nations lies at the heart of the noble vision of the UN Charter.
Following the calamities of the Second World War, and the unparalleled moral catastrophe of the Holocaust, representatives from the family of nations came together to lay the foundations of a new global order, and to build a freer, more just, more peaceful, and more prosperous world.
Translated into Jewish terms, the founders of the UN acted in the spirit of Tikun Olam, the responsibility of all people to do what they can to create a better world. However, while the ideals of the Jewish tradition are deeply rooted in the mission of this parliament of nations, the symbols of Judaism -- the world's oldest monotheistic faith -- have been left out.
For decades, the UN has granted special recognition to Islam and Christianity by adopting days such as Eid Al Fitr and Christmas as official UN holidays, while no Jewish holiday was accorded this respect.
Now, as Israel's Ambassador to the UN, I am proud to say that this historic injustice has been corrected.
This month, thanks to our determined effort, the United Nations recognized Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in the Jewish tradition, as an official holiday.
This is the culmination of a long campaign initiated by the Israeli Mission to the United Nations, and would not have been possible without the support of Jewish communities around the world, and our close partnership with Israel's greatest ally, the United States of America.
Now, Jewish members of diplomatic missions and UN employees will not have to be absent from meetings or miss important votes in order to observe the holiday.
This victory represents more than facilitating holiday observance. The recognition of Yom Kippur in the UN sends a powerful message that will echo in Israel and around the world. Israel is an active player on the world stage and, as a vibrant democracy, we have an important contribution to make.
There are voices in the pro-Israel community who believe that we should simply stop engaging with the UN. Given the magnitude of anti-Israel sentiment, such an attitude is understandable, but I think it is mistaken. Our achievement in getting Yom Kippur on the UN calendar demonstrates what is possible when we stand up for what is right, and when we stand together with the coalition of member states who helped to overcome the entrenched anti-Israel bias in the UN in order to accomplish our goals.
The fight for Yom Kippur was a fight for inclusivity and diversity, for equal treatment and respect for the Jewish tradition. This was a great achievement for Israel and for the Jewish people, yet, while Yom Kippur is a Jewish holiday, its message is universal.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a time of reflection and reconciliation. A day on which we consider the mistakes of the past, reconnect with our deeper sense of morality and justice, and commit ourselves to be better, more compassionate human beings.
This idea that self-reflection and self-criticism is necessary in order learn from the error of our ways is relevant for all people and all institutions, including the United Nations -- perhaps especially the United Nations.
As the history of the past seven decades makes painfully clear, the UN has not lived up to the promise of its founding ideals. From the killing fields of Cambodia, to the genocide in Rwanda, and the atrocities in Srebrenica, all too often the UN and the international community have failed to prevent intolerable human suffering. Today, as we bear witness to the unspeakable crimes of the Assad regime, the savagery of ISIS, and the brutality of Boko Haram, it is clear that we are not even close to fulfilling the noble goals that we set for ourselves seventy years ago.
Next fall, when the UN officially marks Yom Kippur for the very first time, let it be an opportunity for reflection and introspection. The UN should use this one day a year to take pause from its never-ending negotiations, its countless resolutions, and its many missions around the world, to ask: Where could we have done more? Who have we failed to help? How could we have cooperated better?
Just as Yom Kippur obliges us to reflect and improve as individuals, member states owe it to the people of the world to recognize the flaws of the UN's past and to commit to creating a more peaceful and more just future.