Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard is hosting an interfaith shabbat service of solidarity and gratitude on Friday night in response to the hostage situation this past weekend in Colleyville, Texas.
Rabbi Jessica Wainer joined a task force on religious observance created by the Fairfax County School Board last year. The committee was convened to address food, curriculum, clothing, and other religious accommodations. But as its first goal, the group of Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and other minority religion representatives chose what they thought would be the simplest adding a handful of non-Christian holidays to the days schools would be closed.
She and other members of the group had seen students face academic consequences and social pressures for observing their family’s customs. Whether it’s exams on Rosh Hashanah, field trips on Diwali, homecoming games and parties on Eid, or mandatory test-prep sessions on Yom Kippur, the calendar was filled with conflicts forcing students to either sacrifice core parts of their school experience or compromise on their religious obligations.