Religious Services in public schools? (rentals, vs, food)

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by PPL

what about school off with all those jewish holidays?

Schools are not closed because of religious observance.

Schools are closed for safety reasons because, in many districts, administrators and teachers, who are observing the Holy Days, will not be in school.

[VA Yankee]

Originally Posted by Walter Greenspan

How much should Jewish property owners pay and not receive equal access to a hot meal their children can eat?
.

Oh my! This is the same garbage I hear from conservative christians who are opting out of public schools because they want everthing their way. Public schools are a shared burden and hopefully they provide a decent education. I have no kids in school or seniors, special needs, or any other person using the public systems. Can I opt out of paying that portion of my taxes?

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by VA Yankee

But just as I wouldn't want my tax dollar to pay for teaching intelligent design/creationism in public school I would not want the extra tax burden to maintain a kosher facility if the kitchens could even be upgraded to meet them.

As a Jew, I do not want the extra tax burden of supplying meals to some children that my children are prevented by our privately held beliefs from eating.

Originally Posted by VA Yankee

Again if a person has a specific dietary practice then pack a lunch.

Then, how about treating all the children equally and they all bring in a lunch from home.

[VA Yankee]

Originally Posted by Walter Greenspan

As a Jew, I do not want the extra tax burden of supplying meals to some children that my children are prevented by our privately held beliefs from eating.




Then, how about treating all the children equally and they all bring in a lunch from home.

I'll make you a deal you don't have to pay for the meal and I don't have to shoulder the burden of every momza(sic) that takes a private house makes it a Synagogue or yeshiva and becomes tax exempt.

My kids never cared for the school lunches and opted to bring it every day.

[VA Yankee]

To the Op, sorry got off track...have a good night.

[vlorak]

Originally Posted by kayfouroh

No one is requesting special food? Why should the school have to worry about every single child's "needs" (because really, a Jew or a Muslim isn't going to explode after eating Ham & Cheese) when we ALREADY complain about high school taxes. You want your kid eating something you are sure is X, you give them lunch.


I do not remember singing or even learning Silent Night in any grade.

Halloween is a Christian holiday? I didn't know dressing up like a pirate and begging for candy was in the bible.

if you're not jewish or Muslim then you really can't say anything like the above comment.

[NHP Guy]

Originally Posted by Walter Greenspan

Halloween is indeed a Christian holiday: Halloween is the contraction of All Hallows Eve, the evening of All Hallows Day, which is now known as All Saints Day. (St. Valentines Day and St. Patrick's Day are also Christian holidays).

None of those days are recognized as official holidays by any NYS public school that I'm familiar with and none of them carry any religious connotation whatsoever in a public school setting. As I recall, in-school "celebration" of those days was minimal at best, particularly when you got a little older and weren't trick or treating or exchanging Valentine cards.

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by NHP Guy

None of those days are recognized as official holidays by any NYS public school that I'm familiar with and none of them carry any religious connotation whatsoever in a public school setting.

While these holidays may not be "official", observant Jews do not celebrate them, because, from an observant Jewish view, they are considered Christian holidays, and Jews do not celebrate Christian holidays.

Originally Posted by NHP Guy

As I recall, in-school "celebration" of those days was minimal at best ...

Usually, kindergarten teachers encourage children to come to school in Halloween costumes, which, from an observant Jewish view, is part and parcel of celebrating a Christian religious holiday.

(Yes, I realize that many non-observant, secular Jewish children do wear Halloween costumes and do go trick-or-treating. They also eat cheeseburgers and do many things that observant Jewish children do not do.)

[kayfouroh]

Originally Posted by Walter Greenspan

While these holidays may not be "official", observant Jews do not celebrate them, because, from an observant Jewish view, they are considered Christian holidays, and Jews do not celebrate Christian holidays.




Usually, kindergarten teachers encourage children to come to school in Halloween costumes, which, from an observant Jewish view, is part and parcel of celebrating a Christian religious holiday.

(Yes, I realize that many non-observant, secular Jewish children do wear Halloween costumes and do go trick-or-treating. They also eat cheeseburgers and do many things that observant Jewish children do not do.)

So Jews don't celebrate non-Jewish holidays, huh?

Do Jews that work in non-Jewish offices work on Christmas Eve and Christmas day? Or do are the off like everyone else? I mean, I don't take off for Rosh Hashanah but the Jewish people in my office do not come in. Fair's fair, right?

[NHP Guy]

Originally Posted by Walter Greenspan

While these holidays may not be "official", observant Jews do not celebrate them, because, from an observant Jewish view, they are considered Christian holidays, and Jews do not celebrate Christian holidays.




Usually, kindergarten teachers encourage children to come to school in Halloween costumes, which, from an observant Jewish view, is part and parcel of celebrating a Christian religious holiday.

(Yes, I realize that many non-observant, secular Jewish children do wear Halloween costumes and do go trick-or-treating. They also eat cheeseburgers and do many things that observant Jewish children do not do.)

The bottom line is that they are not obligated to participate in anything if it goes against their strict religious beliefs. You can't keep everybody happy 100% of the time in a public school setting given the myriad religions, ethnicities, value systems, etc. that we encounter.

I would personally recommend a private school that better meets the needs/values of the student and their family if they are truly troubled by these types of things.