50 signatures reached
To: Holly Dacres, Senn High School Principal
Tell Senn High School Administrators to not hold Homecoming on Yom Kippur
We are the students, the friends and supporters of the Senn High School Jewish community. Together, we send this message to Principal Holly Dacres and the Senn administration. We are voicing our concern for the scheduling of Senn Homecoming on Yom Kippur, the Highest Holy Day on the Jewish calendar. Find the letter below. Please sign your name if you would like your voice to be heard.
Dear Holly Dacres,
We love being students and supporters of Senn High School. Yet the Jewish students recently have been facing a dilemma. This Friday night starts Yom Kippur. As every other student celebrates the homecoming and will be able to participate in the dance on Friday evening, we will begin our fast on this highest of Holy Days. Because we consider Yom Kippur the holiest day of the year, Jewish people around the world will spend their day in synagogue praying and fasting.
Senn administration could have easily avoided scheduling Homecoming on Yom Kippur, yet you overlooked Judaism’s holiest day. Celebrating Yom Kippur allows us to focus on fasting, prayer and humbling ourselves in the eyes of G-d. We are not here to place blame on the school, but rather to speak up for ourselves. When scheduling school events, the administration should review the interfaith calendar to ensure that all students will have equal access to all that the school has to offer. Yet, this clearly did not happen.
We ask for a public commitment to ensure that no events will be scheduled in the future without reviewing the interfaith calendar. We understand that it may be too late to reschedule this year's homecoming event, which is a shame for those Jewish seniors who now will not be able to attend, but we are sending this letter to ensure this mistake never happens again.
If you are a school based around promoting inclusion and promotes acceptance, then welcome all groups with open arms. If you are a school that respects the diversity of our community, then stand for all voices.
Thank you,
The Jewish Community and supporters of Senn High School
Dear Holly Dacres,
We love being students and supporters of Senn High School. Yet the Jewish students recently have been facing a dilemma. This Friday night starts Yom Kippur. As every other student celebrates the homecoming and will be able to participate in the dance on Friday evening, we will begin our fast on this highest of Holy Days. Because we consider Yom Kippur the holiest day of the year, Jewish people around the world will spend their day in synagogue praying and fasting.
Senn administration could have easily avoided scheduling Homecoming on Yom Kippur, yet you overlooked Judaism’s holiest day. Celebrating Yom Kippur allows us to focus on fasting, prayer and humbling ourselves in the eyes of G-d. We are not here to place blame on the school, but rather to speak up for ourselves. When scheduling school events, the administration should review the interfaith calendar to ensure that all students will have equal access to all that the school has to offer. Yet, this clearly did not happen.
We ask for a public commitment to ensure that no events will be scheduled in the future without reviewing the interfaith calendar. We understand that it may be too late to reschedule this year's homecoming event, which is a shame for those Jewish seniors who now will not be able to attend, but we are sending this letter to ensure this mistake never happens again.
If you are a school based around promoting inclusion and promotes acceptance, then welcome all groups with open arms. If you are a school that respects the diversity of our community, then stand for all voices.
Thank you,
The Jewish Community and supporters of Senn High School
Why is this important?
Senn High school should promote inclusion and acceptance for all students. Yet, this year they decided to hold homecoming on the highest of holy days for the Jewish community. Sign our letter to Principal Holly Dacres to ensure that for all future school events, the Senn administration will commit to reviewing the interfaith calendar to ensure equal opportunities for all students.