Yom Kippur Birthday Party

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Meant "won't" move, not want. She will not move to VA because of the lack of Jewish ppl.

Well, maybe not simply the lack of Jewish people, but perhaps the lack of accompanying Jewish institutions. There are fewer synagogues, Jewish schools, etc. in NoVA compared to MoCo because the Jewish population there is smaller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of non-Jews don't quite understand that Yom Kippur is our MOST religious and important day of the year. It is to us what Christmas is to them. Maybe if people understood that more they would be less likely to schedule things on that day. The other Jewish holidays aren't as big of a deal, but I think people would be pretty annoyed if I scheduled my child's party on Christmas.

We were recently invited to an adult evening event on Yom Kippur. There were lots of other dates the host could have chose. I think they really don't understand the importance of this holiday to those who are Jewish.

Why would you be annoyed? Just don't go. I wouldn't be offended if a Jewish family invited my child to a bday party on Christmas Day (it is, after all, symbolically Jesus Christ's bday); we just wouldn't go because it is a family holiday.

And Christmas is not the most important Christian holiday -- Easter is. So maybe you should be more informed about other religious holidays.

[Anonymous]

From a religious standpoint you are right that Easter is more important than Xmas. From a cultural and family standpoint though Xmas is the much bigger deal for most Christians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pp here - for that matter I have trouble keeping track of exactly when Easter too. The comparison to Xmas is not equal since it never moves around.

This is a good point. Everybody knows when Christmas is because it is always on the same date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Larla Shorenstein will sadly not be able to attend. Yom Kippur is a day for reflection, not a day for partying.

I think this is an obnoxious reply in that it is lecturing and judgmental (especially if the party girl is not being raised in the Jewish faith and doesn't observe Yom Kippur). A better formulation would be "Larla Shorenstein will sadly not be able to attend. Our family observes Yom Kippur, which is a day of reflection, so she cannot attend a party on that day. I hope Larlita has a nice birthday!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest concentration of Jews around here is in Southern MoCo. It's the reason my SIL want move to VA even though she works in Tysons and her husband works in Reston. I think it's like 15% in MoCo whereas the general US population is what, 6%?

This.
Well, I won't move to VA for variety of reasons....but if you live around DC and only know 2 Jewish people, that's because you have a very closed social circle. We're everywhere, and sometimes even cross into VA if we have to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Larla Shorenstein will sadly not be able to attend. Yom Kippur is a day for reflection, not a day for partying.

I think this is an obnoxious reply in that it is lecturing and judgmental (especially if the party girl is not being raised in the Jewish faith and doesn't observe Yom Kippur). A better formulation would be "Larla Shorenstein will sadly not be able to attend. Our family observes Yom Kippur, which is a day of reflection, so she cannot attend a party on that day. I hope Larlita has a nice birthday!"

I don't believe PP was being serious with that reply. It made me laugh though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the situation were reversed and 75% of the kids in the class were Jewish, I doubt anyone would be up in arms about a children's birthday party invite during a Christian, Muslim, or any other religion's holiday. Its simple, if you can't go, politely decline and move on. Its just a children's party. Kids have to learn sometimes that our family and religious obligations outweigh birthday celebrations.

If the situation were reversed, 12 Jewish kids and 4 Christian ones, and I went into my daughters first grade class and distributed party invitations for a party on Christmas Day, I'd be incredibly rude.

Oversite, I can see. But I can't beleive all the people defending the situation where this is a choice.

[Anonymous]

for heaven's sake. the party is about the birthday kid, not about you. i say this as someone who encountered plenty of events on days that are important to my religion and culture. maybe that is the only day that works for their family. again, it is about the kid, not about you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NBD if you're in Kentucky, but in this area it's completely inconsiderate.

I lived and worked here for 13 years and know of only two Jewish people. You're generalizing based on your own social circles.

The biggest concentration of Jews around here is in Southern MoCo. It's the reason my SIL want move to VA even though she works in Tysons and her husband works in Reston. I think it's like 15% in MoCo whereas the general US population is what, 6%?

More like 2% in the general population, I believe. Which is why, outside of major cities and coasts, it's very easy to believe that many people go decades without meeting any Jews or knowing much about Judaism. There just aren't that many of us in total.

[Anonymous]

"Oversite, I can see. But I can't beleive all the people defending the situation where this is a choice. "

But most of us are arguing that it WAS oversite (or family reasons for why this was the only date that worked for other family members perhaps). And for those who grew up in non-metro areas I think it is extremely common to have no idea when the holidays are of other religions, particularly when they are not a hard and fast date each year. The confusing part about YK and other Jewish holidays is that they move around and are multiple days so that even if something is listed on a calendar (e.g. the school one), that doesn't mean it's the only day for the holiday. Why is it so hard to believe that people are simply unaware of a holiday they do not celebrate? It's not like there are YK decorations up everywhere you go or something like at Easter even.

[Anonymous]

Well, if you have other plans, I guess your DD can't go. If you are free, she can go. Leave it at that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Oversite, I can see. But I can't beleive all the people defending the situation where this is a choice. "

But most of us are arguing that it WAS oversite (or family reasons for why this was the only date that worked for other family members perhaps). And for those who grew up in non-metro areas I think it is extremely common to have no idea when the holidays are of other religions, particularly when they are not a hard and fast date each year. The confusing part about YK and other Jewish holidays is that they move around and are multiple days so that even if something is listed on a calendar (e.g. the school one), that doesn't mean it's the only day for the holiday. Why is it so hard to believe that people are simply unaware of a holiday they do not celebrate? It's not like there are YK decorations up everywhere you go or something like at Easter even.

*oversight* not oversite

[Anonymous]

For the record, Jews are between 1-2% of the general U.S. population (depends how you count), but numbers are much higher in major urban centers.