Jewish holiday help, please?

[Anonymous]

Every year I end up having to reschedule work meetings that I've mistakenly scheduled on Jewish holidays. I'm trying to pre-emptively avoid this for next year by dropping the 2017 holidays on the calendar now, but am confused by exactly how they work.

If Rosh Hashana begins at sundown on Sept. 20th, and the actual dates are Sept. 21-22, when do people typically take off to observe? If it matters, said people are the Jewish equivalent of Christmas and Easter Catholics.

Thanks for your help.

[Anonymous]

If it starts sundown on the 20rh, they would probably want a half day on the 20th. Then need to take off the 21 and 22 to go to synagogue. However, this is a holiday like any other, so people will want to travel, and have guests, just like cheistians do for Christmas. So scheduling something super important right next to it would be akin to scheduling something December 23,24,26. Just something to keep in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every year I end up having to reschedule work meetings that I've mistakenly scheduled on Jewish holidays. I'm trying to pre-emptively avoid this for next year by dropping the 2017 holidays on the calendar now, but am confused by exactly how they work.

If Rosh Hashana begins at sundown on Sept. 20th, and the actual dates are Sept. 21-22, when do people typically take off to observe? If it matters, said people are the Jewish equivalent of Christmas and Easter Catholics.

Thanks for your help.

For Rosh Hashana, most Jews would take off the first full day, many the second full day, and likely a significant minority would leave work early the evening before. For Yom Kippur, most will take off the day. Many people do a dinner and services the night before and might leave work early that day. It can depend on whether they fast or not. There's really no way to be completely certain.

[Anonymous]

If Rosh Hashana begins at sundown on Sept. 20th, then I'd take day off on Sept 21.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks. And I'm assuming time off also depends on where it falls during the week?

[Anonymous]

What others have said except that most Jews I know don't celebrate the second day of Rosh Hashana, but you never know. I also don't know many people who travel during those times unless it's around a weekend. It's too inconvenient to travel for a 1-2 day holiday.

[Anonymous]

Most not-very-religious people might leave early on the evening the holiday starts (if at all) and take the next day off. The second day of Rosh Hashanah is more for the more observant people.

[Anonymous]

Many Reform synagogues do not even observe the second day of Rosh Hashanah. Conservative, Orthodox and (I think) some Reform synagogues do, but many Conservative Jews, and most Reform, will go to work on the second day.

I know of few Conservative Jews who will take a half day off on the eve of the first day. Many will not even attend services that night.

Much more important is the eve of Yom Kippur - which has not only a major service, but also a pre fast meal, that observant Jews must eat before sun down. Most observant Jews will want to leave early, and those with long commutes might want to take the half day.

[Anonymous]

Afternoon on the 20th, and then all day 21st and 22nd.

[Anonymous]

For events that begin at sundown, generally do not schedule anything after lunch on that day. Even many casual Jews will want to be home by sundown generally because whatever events they do on that day will commence at sundown, so most of those celebrating will be leaving early to get home and help finish up prep for the meal or service that will occur that evening. For example, Yom Kippur is usually a day of fasting and the celebration is after sundown when the break fast starts.

I would avoid anything the afternoon of the day the holiday starts at sundown and the first full day at a minimum. If you can avoid the second day, do so, but far fewer Jews celebrate the second and subsequent days of a holiday as opposed to the first full day.

[Anonymous]

There's a range of practices but if you want to find the widest sweep, don't schedule anything after noon on the 20th, or at all on the 21st and 22nd. All Jewish holidays start at sundown the night before the official date listed on the regular calendar. Therefore Rosh Hashana starts around 6 or 7 pm on the 20th. More observant people -- even those who only attend services on the High Holidays -- may leave work around 2 or 3 to get home early for a festive meal before going to synagogue. And then be in synagogue each of the next two days. Same story for Yom Kippur except it is the evening before plus one day.

[Anonymous]

As a Jew, I say thank you for asking this, OP. We have all had to miss important meetings or events that are scheduled on the holidays. It's bad to miss them and it also feels bad when others schedule important things on the holidays - it seems callous - so I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Rosh Hashana begins at sundown on Sept. 20th, then I'd take day off on Sept 21.

Yes, and I would probably leave early on the 20th.

Most Jews around here are back on the 22.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a range of practices but if you want to find the widest sweep, don't schedule anything after noon on the 20th, or at all on the 21st and 22nd. All Jewish holidays start at sundown the night before the official date listed on the regular calendar. Therefore Rosh Hashana starts around 6 or 7 pm on the 20th. More observant people -- even those who only attend services on the High Holidays -- may leave work around 2 or 3 to get home early for a festive meal before going to synagogue. And then be in synagogue each of the next two days. Same story for Yom Kippur except it is the evening before plus one day.

Reform Jews don't do the second day, and that is most Jews around here.

OP. Thanks for being thoughtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks. And I'm assuming time off also depends on where it falls during the week?

Nope. Certainly we are more inclined to visit our parents when it doesn't fall on a Wednesday, but that isn't your problem.