Cyberthought by Rabbi Zelizer -- August 8, 2008
As many of you know, the Board of Education of Edison has scheduled a vote on a school bond issue on September 30, 2008 - the 1st day of Rosh Hashanah. I have written the following letter to both the Acting Superintendent and President of the Edison Board of Education. I encourage you to also communicate directly.
August 8, 2008 Acting Superintendent John A. DiMuzio Edison Board of Education 312 Pierson Avenue Edison, New Jersey 08837Dear Mr. DiMuzio,
I wanted to communicate to state my disappointment in the scheduling of a vote on a school bond issue on September 30th, which is Rosh Hashanah in the Jewish calendar. As you certainly have heard and know, this is a very sacred day in the Jewish religious calendar. Jews are religiously obligated to be in synagogue and to refrain from secular activities. I am puzzled as to why this referendum would be scheduled on a Jewish religious holiday, when the religious calendar was shared with the Board of Education in order that school be cancelled. I understand that statements have been made that if Jews wish, they can submit an absentee ballot prior to the election. Besides the inconvenience, the notion of an absentee ballot is that one misses an election because of circumstances beyond his/her control. Ironically, though, we are only absent because the scheduling of this election on our religious holiday necessitates our being so! Please consider that the Jewish community turns out in high percentages for all elections, including educational matters, and has a long history of commitment to public education, including support of funding such as that in bond issues. What a pity that this referendum has been scheduled to conflict with the religious holiday of this large population. Would such a referendum be scheduled on the Christmas holiday? I urge that this referendum be changed to a day other than one of the most sacred days in the Jewish religious calendar. It is simply unfair to Jewish voters.
Sincerely, Gerald L. Zelizer Rabbi cc: President David Dickinson Debbie Anes