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"No Big Deal"... or is it?

October 2005 diversity newsletter

Fall is an important time for Jews around the world. Like me, they will be celebrating the Jewish High Holy days. This period is called the "10 days of awe" because of its deep spiritual significance. At sundown on October 3, Rosh Hashanah begins, marking a new year (5766) and is followed by Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, beginning at sundown October 12 through October 13. Yom Kippur is the holiest and most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. Despite the magnitude of this time for Jews, my guess is that there is little awareness of it in your workplaceâ�"perhaps a "don't ask, don't tell" attitude prevails. In other words, if you are not Christian, the majority religion in most workplaces, you just celebrate quietly, taking time off without much explanation.

Most of us who are Jews or Muslims or Hindus or Baha'i or the hundreds of other minority religions in the United States believe it's best to keep our practices to ourselves. Besides, this country is founded on separation of church and state. We keep religion out of our government and our workplaces, right?

But consider this. A client asked a colleague and me to facilitate the second half of work we had begun with their leadership group. They selected October 4, a date when their leaders would be together in one city. That day is Rosh Hashanah. I hesitated to make a "big deal" out of it for my client, and I really wanted to be part of continuing this important work. But I told him that, based on the fact that it is my religious holiday, there wasn't any way that I could be there that day. When my colleague and I explained why and suggested that October 4 may not be a good day for some of the attendees as well, we were told that there were no Jewish attendees, so there was no problem on their end.
How would you have handled this?

Here is another example. A Jewish member of a project team was asked to sign off on a final product proposal before it was sent to the client. The client deadline was the morning after Yom Kippur. Several weeks earlier, the team member had let his co-workers know that during the final week of the project, he planned to leave at noon on Wednesday and return on Friday. When he reminded the project manager of his planned personal time off, the reply was, "No problem. We will email it to you on Thursday morning. That way you can look at it while you are at home and get it back first thing in the morning." How would you have handled this?

It's fairly easy to see the assumptions at work in these two scenarios, as well as the challenging positions in which individuals who practice minority religions find themselves in our land of religious freedom.

For more information, visit Judaism 101 and learn about Rosh Hashanah and many other Jewish holidays.

For more information about religion in the workplace, you can purchase ProGroup's book Religion in the Workplace.

ProGroup partnered with the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding to create Religion in the Workplace. Tanenbaum Center still offers the complete toolkit at their website.

Apples dipped in honey are traditionally eaten to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Click here or here for more information about this and other customs. The lettering in the picture spells l'shanah tovah, a common Hebrew greeting during Rosh Hashanah. It means "for a good year."

5 ideas

I would like to share some personal thoughts about the workplace and Jewish High Holidays. Please remember that these thoughts are from my perspective and my many years of experiences. If you are curious about how others feel, I encourage you to use this information as a vehicle to trigger conversations. I am also including some general tips after each thought—tips that I think will be helpful as you work with people of many different religions.

1. Jewish holidays are not just about attending a worship service.
They are a time of reflection and contemplation. For many, like me, they involve preparation of traditional foods, which are enjoyed with family and friends. On Yom Kippur, a fast begins the night before and lasts all the next day until sundown, when a "break the fast" celebration occurs. This means that asking someone to review work, study for a test, or be available for customer calls is disrespectful. Saying this, individuals often make difficult choices so as not to create problems. It's up to them.

General Tip: Ask individuals you work with and your friends to teach you how to respect their rituals and traditions around various holidays. Refrain from making challenging requests that add a burden to these individuals. Would you want to spend Christmas Eve completing a report?

2. Please consider significant religious dates when scheduling important meetings, events, or deadlines. Jewish holidays vary from year to year because they are based on a lunar calendar. It isn't easy to be the voice that challenges a date because of a religious holiday.

General Tip: Use a calendar such as ProGroup's Honoring Differences® Diversity Calendar before you arrange dates. Many religious holidays remain between now and the end of the year.

3. You can make many deposits in someone's "respect account" if you acknowledge the holidays with a Jewish New Year card, found wherever greeting cards are sold, or just by wishing someone "Happy New Year." There's that old saying, "It means a lot to send the very best."

General Tip: Learn about greetings and phrases that will let others know you are aware of their holidays and wish them well. If you don't know what to say or do to honor them, ask and then remember to respond appropriately.

4. While you might be interested in the holidays of others, allow people to maintain their privacy and decide how much they are willing to share. Because Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur have such deep religious significance and because they are so personal, they aren't generally subjects of light conversation.

General Tip: There's a fine line between being interested and being nosy. Respect an individual's privacy by asking questions to learn and then allowing the individual to decide how much he or she wants to share.

5. Not all Jews are alike. This probably comes as no surprise to you. Even among observant Jews, Rosh Hashanah can be celebrated over one, two, or even three days depending on the branch of Judaism. Remember, there are many ways of observing Jewish holidays just as there are in all religions, including Christianity.

General Tip: Assume good business practices and know that individuals of different religions are used to working within these boundaries. However, with an increasing number of non-Christians in today's U.S. workplaces, it makes sense to look at your policies and practices again. Take time to ask for input and advice because smart organizations want to attract and retain the best people from all religions.

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