Practical question re today's closure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if all the Jewish staff fasted for 24 hours, avoided leather sand marital relations, and spent the day in prayer……. That’s what is supposed to happen on Yom Kipper.

I’m going to guess yes. This is one of our holiest days of the year.

I'm going to guess no, based on the many posts on social media I see from my Jewish friends and neighbors on YK.

Pretty sure I see plenty of posts on Christmas and Easter. I’m not sure a post means someone did not celebrate.

Hi, I'm the person you quoted/responded to. I didn't express myself very well, so I'll give a bit of background.

More than 20 years ago, I was in a relationship with a Jewish man. I learned a lot about the religion, including what the New Year is and the Day of Atonement. He told me YK is *THE* Holiest day of the year, not "one of the." He celebrated RH, but observed YK. (Basically, there isn't anything to "celebrate" on YK.)

He also taught me that on YK, basically, a person goes to Temple, sits, prays, asks forgiveness, and fasts. At sundown, break fast with family or friends. There is nothing else to do. He was raised as a Conservative Jew, not Reform.

This was way before smart devices and social media. So maybe things have changed/evolved. However, it just seems that posting things like "Have an easy fast!!" doesn't feel much like the activities he described.

Okay, so you're talking about ONE person's experience. There are literally millions of Jews in America. We may observe differently - just as there's not ONE required way to celebrate Christmas or Easter, right??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if all the Jewish staff fasted for 24 hours, avoided leather sand marital relations, and spent the day in prayer……. That’s what is supposed to happen on Yom Kipper.

What are leather sand marital relations?

Sounds kinky.

“ and not sand”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's about inclusivity. We recognize Christmas and Easter as major holidays in the US, while jewish people sit around bored waiting for them to be over. You can allow us these two days.

I’m Christian. I can celebrate Christmas with family at night or a weekend.

I hate the scattered days off for holidays all year.

Why can’t mcps give us one odd week so we can go on vacation.
Booking at thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter is a real pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about inclusivity. We recognize Christmas and Easter as major holidays in the US, while jewish people sit around bored waiting for them to be over. You can allow us these two days.

I’m Christian. I can celebrate Christmas with family at night or a weekend.

I hate the scattered days off for holidays all year.

Why can’t mcps give us one odd week so we can go on vacation.
Booking at thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter is a real pain.

I know it's so inconvenient for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With respect and appreciation for all families observing Yom Kippur, what would be the practical impact of granting all observing students and employees excused absences and PTO? Would the school system be too understaffed to function?

Some schools would be understaffed. There aren’t enough subs to handle all teacher absences on a random day let alone one of holiest days for a religion well-represented among MCPS teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s about staffing. There are too many Jewish staff members for the system to be able to function.

This is why schools are closed. It is absolutely a staffing issue.

What percentage of staff's are Jewish in entire MCPS? Have MCPS published this data?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s about staffing. There are too many Jewish staff members for the system to be able to function.

This is why schools are closed. It is absolutely a staffing issue.

What percentage of staff's are Jewish in entire MCPS? Have MCPS published this data?

It’s a large percentage of teachers and substitute teachers. Kids too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's about inclusivity. We recognize Christmas and Easter as major holidays in the US, while jewish people sit around bored waiting for them to be over. You can allow us these two days.

How about extending that consideration to other religions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s about staffing. There are too many Jewish staff members for the system to be able to function.

This is why schools are closed. It is absolutely a staffing issue.

What percentage of staff's are Jewish in entire MCPS? Have MCPS published this data?

It’s a large percentage of teachers and substitute teachers. Kids too.

Yes, I have heard about this large number, I am looking at how large in terms of percentage to get the scale? Otherwise , we might be practicing some thing which is not an issue anymore but used to be issue a while back.

How many staff's/teachers are Jewish in MCPS? Is it 5%, 10%, 20%, 40% ??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about inclusivity. We recognize Christmas and Easter as major holidays in the US, while jewish people sit around bored waiting for them to be over. You can allow us these two days.

How about extending that consideration to other religions?

So many different religions. Pretty soon we will have no school days left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s about staffing. There are too many Jewish staff members for the system to be able to function.

This is why schools are closed. It is absolutely a staffing issue.

What percentage of staff's are Jewish in entire MCPS? Have MCPS published this data?

It’s a large percentage of teachers and substitute teachers. Kids too.

Yes, I have heard about this large number, I am looking at how large in terms of percentage to get the scale? Otherwise , we might be practicing some thing which is not an issue anymore but used to be issue a while back.

How many staff's/teachers are Jewish in MCPS? Is it 5%, 10%, 20%, 40% ??

They did a survey in 2018, and 17% of staff respondents said they would not be at school/work for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s about staffing. There are too many Jewish staff members for the system to be able to function.

This is why schools are closed. It is absolutely a staffing issue.

What percentage of staff's are Jewish in entire MCPS? Have MCPS published this data?

It’s a large percentage of teachers and substitute teachers. Kids too.

Yes, I have heard about this large number, I am looking at how large in terms of percentage to get the scale? Otherwise , we might be practicing some thing which is not an issue anymore but used to be issue a while back.

How many staff's/teachers are Jewish in MCPS? Is it 5%, 10%, 20%, 40% ??

They did a survey in 2018, and 17% of staff respondents said they would not be at school/work for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Surprising given 10% Jewish population in county. Out of 10%, many are not even religious.

[Anonymous]

Let’s have days off for major religious holidays and stop giving random professional days in the middle of the week. Easy solution.

[Anonymous]

Professional days, as the name suggests, are not holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Professional days, as the name suggests, are not holidays.

What professional activities occur? Most teachers use these as vacation days.