Latvija in brief - 2011-10-06

On the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, Arkadijs Suharenko, chairman of the Latvian Jewish Community, wishes the people of Latvia more patience and understanding and that the nation must be united on the most important questions for a better future, reports LETA. On Sept. 29, the Jewish people were marking the beginning of New Year 5772. “We hope that the New Year will leave all troubles and worries in the past, and that there will be no place for anything to depress us. On this day, we must evaluate what we have done last year, repent of our wrongdoings and mistakes, and promise ourselves to do good deeds in the future,” said Suharenko. Latvia’s Jews marked the New Year with prayers in the recently renovated Riga Synagogue on Peitavas Street (Peitav Shul). “We must be together in celebration, in everyday lives, as well as in hard times. I wish each of us new ideas, strength and persistence in reaching our goals, as well as positive changes for our country! I wish all of you good health, joy, well-being, love and harmony in your families, and success for your children,” he said.

At around 9:40 a.m. in the morning of Sept. 30, outside an apartment complex in Ventspils, a man (born 1966) was shot three times with a gun and later died in hospital, said Ventspils Police Chief Girts Kokins, reports LETA. The man was shot three times - once in the head and twice in the chest. The murder weapon has been recovered. The man died in the hospital about an hour after the shooting. As the man’s wife told local police, he had gone outside to take out the trash when he was attacked. The man was shot from behind. The victim apparently was not in any way involved in business activity in the port city. Police also have no information of any threats made to the man previously. A criminal process has been started. Police do not have an official motive for the attack, and allow the possibility that it was a contract killing.