To your good wishes, Esmeralda, I say "Amen." It's an incredibly brave thing that these activists are doing. It's daunting to read about the planned protests and the large police presence. I wish them well in this endeavour which is essentially an attempt to exercise their freedom of speech.

 I will take the liberty of slightly adapting, on this occasion, by transposing it from the first person into the second for the benefit of each participant in this conference, a magnificent Jewish prayer, the Krias Shema, which Chaim Potok included in his book 'My Name is Asher Lev'.

"In the Name of the LORD, the G-d of Israel:

"May Michael be at your right hand

Gabriel at your left

Before you, Uriel;

behind you, Raphael;

and above your head the Divine presence of G-d.

Amen, and Amen."