Rabbi Amy's Comments on New School Calendar
11/23/2020 08:03:21 AM
Seth Leventhal
Author | |
Date Added | |
Automatically create summary | |
Summary |
Rabbi Amy's comments on the Loudoun County School District's alternative proposals for a calendar change for the 2021-2022 academic year that incorporates additional holidays that reflect the diversity of the LCPS community. Click here to see the comments, which we have reprinted here for your information:
I would like to respond to the assertion, expressed in these pages, that Option A of the 2021-2022 Calendar Proposal Options released by the Loudoun County School Board on Nov. 5 is the only equitable option that doesn’t violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In fact, all of the options presented before the School Board (Options A, B and C) are well within the purview of the First Amendment, especially the Establishment Clause together with the Free Exercise Clause, for none of the options either seeks to nor achieves the establishment of a single state religion. This proposal is not a constitutional matter at all. It is not a legal matter. It is a matter of civics. It is a matter of how we as a community want to acknowledge or ignore the diversity of the people in our county when this people as a whole: Christian Americans, Hindu Americans, Muslim Americans, and Jewish Americans take time to celebrate major religious holidays of our separate faith and ethnic traditions.
Affording these specific holy days off does not mandate students and staff to celebrate these religious holidays any more than observing Veterans Day mandates that we all make a choice to actively honor our Veterans. The same for MLK Jr. Day or Presidents Day. Similarly, including a day off for Christmas during the winter vacation does not mandate anyone go to church or to actively celebrate Christmas. These are days we as a community agree to set aside because we acknowledge that either a large number of people will be absent on that day, or because we decide that by extending the school year by just two days, we can express a great show of respect for those in our community who would benefit from having their most important holy days acknowledged. And we’re not talking about faceless masses. We’re talking about your child’s classmate, or best friend, or teammate, or neighbor, or teacher, or coach or administrator.
As one of my 10th grade students put it, to observe these holidays on our school calendars would be “a kindness.” We are not walking any legal fences here. It’s legal and constitutional to keep things as they are. It’s legal and constitutional to modify them as is proposed. The question is whether we want to extend this “kindness” to one another.
Rabbi Amy J. Sapowith
Ashburn
Sat, February 4 2023
13 Sh'vat 5783
it's BCRC's 25th Anniversary
This year our 'house of friends' will celebrate our 25th anniversary by returning to a full schedule of events where adults, kids and families can get together. Watch for announcements of events and please consider a special 25th anniversary donation to your house of friends (click donate above).
Calling all scouts! Scout shabbat Feb 10
Calling all scouts! Mark your calendars for Friday, February 10. Our own Alex Harris, chaplain's aide for Boy Scout Troop 1941, based in Ashburn, will deliver a short welcome message about scouting and Tu B'Shvat, and can answer questions from prospective scouts. Come in uniform! Scouts attending can get a special commemorative patch; email Alex (alexwh24601@gmail.com) if you would like one.
Helper Family Returns: Please Sign Up!
Beginning this year, BCRC is bringing back the Helper Family program for Friday Erev Shabbat services. We encourage each family unit (including single members) to volunteer as a helper family for one or two Erev Shabbat services each year. This is a mitzvah for the BCRC community, and a great way for you to connect with other congregants. Click HERE to sign up. Click HERE to see full instructions for helper families. Thank you!
Tomorrow's Calendar
: 9:00am |
This week's Torah portion is Parashat B'shalach
Shabbat, Feb 4 |
Tu BiSh'vat
Monday, Feb 6 |
Visit Our Facebook Page
Click here to visit BCRC on Facebook and 'like' our page to follow us.
The BCRC Blog
First Annual Northern VA Night of Lights
Wednesday, Dec 21 1:13pmRabbi Amy's High Holy Day Sermons
Saturday, Oct 8 9:05amOfficial Notice: Rabbi contract renewal
Tuesday, Aug 16 8:06pmThose of you who are longtime members of BCRC may scarcely believe it, but the time has come once again to discuss renewing BCRC’
Contact Us!
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation
21740 Beaumeade Circle, Suite 100
Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 729-1659
office@bcrcva.org