Yom Kippur Birthday Party

Anonymous
Inconsiderate or not a big deal?

My husband is totally nonplussed. I'm just a bit taken aback, as this is a whole class party. (Invite sent home from school.) 25% of class is Jewish.

Anonymous
No Jewish kid will attend. Yom Kippur is a very serious, very important Jewish holiday. Pick another day!
Anonymous
Most likely the family didn't know - the holidays are so early this year I wouldn't have thought about it (and I'm Jewish) except that it is messing with the first week of my son's school. I would not assume it is intentional.
Anonymous
Would you send your kid to a bday party on Christmas Day or Easter?
Anonymous
Sorry. Op here. I was unclear.

We were invited. And are Jewish. As, oddly enough, is the birthdays girls dad.

My daughter was just so excited as it is one if her best friends and it came home in the agenda.
Anonymous
I think it's inconsiderate considering they knew, and 25% of the kids are Jewish. If they didn't know akd there were no Jewish kids, it wouldn't matter. Even the most lax Jews I know acknowledge the holiday to some tiny extent. I would never throw a bday party on Christmas even though it's not a day that is any different to me.
Anonymous
OP, I think you are reading a lot into the situation without enough information. Maybe it is the only day in the month they are available. Maybe while the father was raised Jewish he no longer practices and did not explain the importance of the holiday to his wife. Just send your regrets noting the holiday -- they may change the date.
Anonymous
Yom Kippur is an extremely serious and important holiday. I'm pretty reform but I would not allow my child to attend a birthday party on Yom Kippur. Sukkot, Hannukah, maybe even Rosh Hashanah I would do, but not Yom Kippur. Most Jewish people will be in shul and/or fasting anyway.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Sorry. Op here. I was unclear.

We were invited. And are Jewish. As, oddly enough, is the birthdays girls dad.

My daughter was just so excited as it is one if her best friends and it came home in the agenda.


Here's the part you can't control: when somebody else has a birthday party for their child.
Here's the part you can: whether or not your child goes to the birthday party she's been invited to.

So respond and say, "Sorry, my child can't come." The end.
Anonymous
We are not religious but we would not attend either as its inconsiderate if you know and plan for that day.
Anonymous
OP here. That's exactly what we did.

Trust me, I don't think it was malicious. And your two guesses were exactly the ones I thought of, ie it really was the only free day and/or dad wasn't involved or doesn't worry about the Jewish holidays anymore.
Anonymous
...Yom Kippur is only every major and even minor calendar you can consult on when to pick a birthday party date.

I wouldn't attend. Even if I weren't religious, I grew up where if you weren't going to synagogue on Yom, you didn't do anything. I'm pregnant and not fasting, I plan on attending for an hour or two, but won't spend the rest of the day running errands. It's an important day.

I'd see if your daughter can have a smaller get together with the birthday girl at a later date to celebrate since they're such good friends - this will be a good lesson to her on the importance on the holiday. Just an idea.
Anonymous
This is what comes of marrying shiksas.
Anonymous
I agree with PP. If they knew they were not inviting any Jewish kids, then fine. If I were inviting only Jewish kids I would think nothing of having a party on Easter Sunday. I would not invite the entire class in an area where 1/4 of the class is Jewish. But..they made their own choice for whatever reason, and the guests can make their own about attending. Since your daughter is a good friend, invite her over for a cupcake next time you have a free afternoon.
Anonymous
Larla Shorenstein will sadly not be able to attend. Yom Kippur is a day for reflection, not a day for partying.
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