How would the community react if an inclement-weather makeup day was placed on Christmas or Easter? Everyone would have to trudge out of their homes to go to school or work rather than stay with their family for their religious high holy day. This is what happened to Chapel Hill’s Jewish community on Yom Kippur on September 19.
Hurricane Florence blew into the area the weekend before, causing destruction and chaos with its massive storms and billowing winds, forcing schools to close to keep faculty and students safe. However, in order to make up these lost days, the school board repealed the day off that was reserved for Yom Kippur.
In the Jewish faith, Yom Kippur is a sacred high holy day, including a complete fast and prayer without the use of technology. It is a solemn day of atonement that strictly forbids traveling to jobs or school. On September 19, Jewish students and faculty had to choose between their religion and school or work.
A letter was issued by community religious leaders—Jewish and Christian—to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) district, urging the board to undo its decision to hold school on such an important holiday. Part of the letter read: “We have the power to decide that we will respect our diverse student population. We can commit to standards of equity that honor not only those in the religious majority but also those who are too often overlooked.”
The letter was given little attention, and classes proceeded on Yom Kippur, much to many Jewish citizens’ dismay. The school board responded the next day with an apology and an excused absence for each student who missed school for religious reasons.
CHCCS Board Chairwoman Rani Dasi expressed “regret” the makeup day was held on Yom Kippur, stating, “As a school district, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools … values cultural and religious holidays important to our community members.”
In many Jewish citizens’ eyes, the apology was not enough: Yom Kippur is arguably the holiest day on the Hebrew calendar and is undeniably worthy of its own allotted day to allow faith practices. Removing this day’s observance when other days could have been chosen is painful, to say the least.
The hurricane certainly took many by surprise, but public schools need to be respectful of all students, no matter their race, sexuality, gender or religion. Hopefully, in the future, CHCCS will be more mindful of all religious holidays—not just Christian ones.
