In mid- February, OAJC's 2012-1013 Holy Days brochure was mailed to every school in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The brochure gives administrators important information to use regarding school schedules and calendars. Below is the information that is provided in the brochure. Please scroll down to the bottom of this page to download a pdf of the 2012-13 or the 2011-2012 brochure.  September 2012 - June 2013 • Calendar • Information regarding scheduling of school activities on Jewish holy days • Explanation of holy days WE WANT TO HELP This information has been prepared to familiarize area educators with the major holy days of the Jewish faith. We hope it will be valuable to you in understanding Jewish holy day observances and their effect on student and staff absences and classroom planning. THE JEWISH HOLY DAYS The Jewish religion celebrates a number of special days of observance. These dates occur according to the Jewish calendar. Thus, the Jewish holy days fall on different dates from year to year within the Gregorian or Christian calendar. Traditional observance of the Jewish holy days calls for abstaining from work, school, and other everyday activities, and for participating in religious worship. These days are not viewed as “vacation” or “free time.” WHEN THE HOLY DAY BEGINS Every Jewish holy day begins at sunset of the previous day. Holy days conclude after sunset on the designated day. For example, in 2011 Yom Kippur is observed on a Saturday. However, it begins on Friday evening at sunset and concludes Saturday night after dark. That entire time is considered holy – the evening is just as important as the daytime. It is imperative that schools avoid conflicts on the eve of a holy day as well as on the day of the holy day itself. SCHEDULING SCHOOL ACTIVITIES The law requires schools to provide make-up opportunities for those students who are absent due to religious observance. However, there would be less disruption for students and teachers if the dates of major Jewish holy days were taken into account in the scheduling of exams and assignments. Non-academic activities such as back-to-school nights, band or choir concerts, school dances, etc., are also important to students, parents, and teachers. Please remember to check the Jewish Holy Day calendar when scheduling all school related activities. LEVELS OF OBSERVANCE There are three major branches within Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform. All three consider the holy days to be special religious events. Each, however, has its own degree of observance regarding work and school on holy days. As a result, the number of days which a holy day may be observed varies from person to person, depending on the level of religious observance. JEWISH HOLY DAY CALENDAR 2011-2012 STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL PROBABLY BE ABSENT FOR THE FOLLOWING HOLY DAYS: ROSH HASHANAH Sunday Evening - September 16, 2012 Monday – September 17, 2012 Tuesday – September 18, 2012 Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the Jewish year. It is the first of the High Holy Days and marks the start of the ten-day period of penitence and spiritual renewal. YOM KIPPUR Day of Atonement Tuesday Evening – September 25, 2012 Wednesday – September 26, 2012 (All day, including the evening)Yom Kippur is the tenth day of penitence. This is the most holy day in the Jewish year. It is marked by fasting and prayer, as people ask forgiveness from both God and fellow humans. PASSOVER (SEDERS) Monday Evening – March 25, 2013 Tuesday Evening – March 26, 2013 Passover celebrates the liberation of the Jews from Egyptian bondage. During this eight-day festival matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten. The Seder is a ritual meal that occurs on the eves of the first two days of Passover.STUDENTS AND STAFF MAY BE ABSENT FOR THE FOLLOWING HOLY DAYS: SUKKOT Sunday Evening – September 30, 2012 Monday – October 1 2012 Tuesday – October 2, 2012 Sukkot is the Jewish festival of thanksgiving and harvest. SHEMINI ATZERET Sunday Evening – October 7 2012 Monday – October 8, 2012 Shemini Atzeret is the eighth day of Sukkot, on which special memorial prayers are said. SIMHAT TORAH Monday Evening – October 8, 2012 Tuesday – October 9, 2012 Simhat Torah celebrates the conclusion of the public reading of the five books of Moses and its beginning anew, thus affirming that the study of God’s word is an unending process. PASSOVER Tuesday – March 26, 2013 Wednesday – March 27, 2013 Monday – April 1, 2013 Tuesday– April 2, 2013 The first two days and the last two days of Passover celebrate the liberation from Egyptian bondage. SHAVUOT Monday Evening – May 14, 2013 Tuesday –May 15, 2013 Wednesday – May 16, 2013 Shavuot celebrates the covenant established at Mount Sinai between God and Israel, and the revelation of the Ten Commandments. WHAT ABOUT HANUKKAH? The eight-day Festival of Lights, Hanukkah, celebrates the triumph of religious liberty and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees in 165 BCE. Hanukkah is a minor Jewish festival that does not require missing work or school. Hanukkah begins on Saturday evening, December 8, 2012. The last night of Hanukkah is Saturday evening, December 15, 2012. |
|
|
OAJC Jewish Holy Days Brochure |
|
