[CBI] Notice From Rabbi Bayar Concerning Millburn School Calendar

[Lisa Roth]

To our community:
 
 You may have heard of the issue concerning religious holidays being
discussed by the Millburn Board of Education.  Over the past decade our
township has expanded its demographic to include other cultures and
religions.   I believe this change has been beneficial to all concerned.
Multicultural communities are stronger communities.   However, this
expansion has resulted in a perceived insensitivity to religious observances
not recognized by the school calendar.  
 
Currently there is a suggestion being discussed at the Board of Education to
remove all religious holidays from the school calendar.  In this way the
school system would be perceived as treating everyone equally. 
 
I believe that this would be a serious mistake for our township community. 
 
It is not my intention to speak for other religious communities or pretend
to know of other cultural observances.  What I do know is that Jewish Holy
Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are observed with restrictions that
require our students to stay out of school.  In our tradition holiness is
equated with restriction.  
 
While I favor a separation of Church/State - I am against giving away
religious rights of observance that were obtained through the democratic
process with much effort and struggle.  
 
I urge you to contact members of the school board and the superintendent
(see below) in addition to attending Monday evening's Board of Education
meeting, which is at 7:45 pm in the Education Center, 434 Millburn Avenue,
Millburn.  We know from experience that the School Board is responsive to
these methods of communication.  Make your voice heard.
 
One  serious  note of caution.  I have read and spoken to several members of
our community who have suggested that this move is inherently anti-Semitic
and have invoked other persecutions in our history.  This  is not the issue
and this  rhetoric only serves to  polarize our community, label us a "one
issue" religious community and is counterproductive to the outcome we wish
to work towards as a community.
 
With best wishes
 
Steven Bayar, Rabbi  
 

 
 Contact Information for Board of Education Members:
James A. Crisfield, Ed.D. 
Superintendent of Schools 
(973) 376-3600 (X151) 
 <mailto:james.crisfield at millburn.org> james.crisfield at millburn.org
 
 Jeffrey Waters, President
(2008-2014)
35 Canoe Brook Road, Short Hills 07078
(973) 258-9637
 <mailto:jeffrey.waters at millburn.org> jeffrey.waters at millburn.org
 
 
Regina Truitt, Vice President
(2011-2014)
385 Hartshorn Drive, Short Hills, NJ  07078
(973) 258-4098 
 regina.truitt at millburn.org 
 
 
Chase Harrison
(2014)
22 Bruce Path
Short Hills 07078                 
(973) 912-8416             
 <mailto:chase.harrison at millburn.org> chase.harrison at millburn.org
 
Emily Jaffe                             
(2014-2017)                           
16 Falmouth Street
Short Hills 07078                 
(973) 379-0707
 <mailto:emily.jaffe at millburn.org> emily.jaffe at millburn.org
 
 
Michael T. King
(2014-2017)
23 Marion Avenue
Short Hills 07078
(973) 376-0135    <mailto:michael.king at millburn.org>
michael.king at millburn.org
 

 
Dr. Eric S. Siegel
(2009-2016)
192 Western Drive
Short Hills 07078
(973) 379-5679
 <mailto:eric.siegel at millburn.org> eric.siegel at millburn.org
 
 
Dr. Rupali Wadhwa
(2013-2016)
12 W. Beechcroft Road
Short Hills, NJ 07078
(973) 467-6703
 <mailto:rupali.wadhwa at millburn.org> rupali.wadhwa at millburn.org
 
 
John Westfall-Kwong
(2013-2017)
18 Great Hills Road
Short Hills, NJ 07078
(973) 379-2736
 <mailto:john.westfall-kwong at millburn.org> john.westfall-kwong at millburn.org
 
 
Raymond Wong
(2013-2016)
47 Glen Avenue
Millburn, NJ 07041
(917) 601-1276
 <mailto:raymond.wong at millburn.org> raymond.wong at millburn.org


 
 
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