Yomim Tovim and Work

This year, the yomim tovim are not worker friendly. What I mean is, that they all fall out on work days, therefore affecting those who do work in offices that are not primarily Jewish, or not Jewish at all. When Rosh Hashanah falls out on a Wednesday night, one is requesting two work days off, plus half of one day. And then you have Succos. Half of one day followed by two days off. Go back to work for two days and off for the rest of the week. Might as well NOT go in..Then try to explain to boss person why you are in and out for the same holiday. Either you can work on your holiday or you can't. Try explaining Chol Hamoed.

Again, not everyone works in Jewish friendly environments where the boss' are frum and the office is closed. Not everyone gets paid whether they are there or not. It is really a trying time for some Frum people who work. I mean you are taking off for so many days, and there are only an allotted amount of days off you are entitled to. They don't always like it when you take off more than they will pay you for...Even if you take it as no pay. And what do those who need the pay in order to pay their bills, and if they take off from work with no pay how will those bills be paid if they are short a weeks paycheck?

I know Yomim Tovim are supposed to enjoyable and relaxing, but reality hits in. Unfortunately for us, we live in an American society that has their own agenda that doesn't conform with ours and therefore we lose out. Is it bad to say that because of YomTov one loses out on a promotion, or gets rejected for a job because of the religion obligations? Yes, that is true too. Think about it. Pesach was a three day yom tov, meaning one had to take off the minimum of 4 days, and now you had Rosh Hashanah and Succos, so throw in another 6 days. Totaling 10 days off. Do you want to throw in Purim, Tisha B'Av and other miscellaneous days off...And there you have it. No vacation time and you are over your paid days off plan. So yes, for those who work outside the oilam it is a very trying time. Not all bosses are accommodating, leaving you little options that are not so happy ones. But...There is not much one can do about it. Living in the gashmius world...Well, these are the consequences.

Gmar Chasima Tova

Ignorant

I am so clueless about what is going on out there. Yes, the world. It exists. It is an election year. The presidential candidates are speaking about what their plans are for the next four years of this country. Do I care? Do I know what they each stand for? Do I have the time to read or better yet, do I take the time to read and update myself on life? On current events, other than my own current events! That is a big issue.

I have read others blogg about their feelings with the latest topic on the Jewish communities. I have read another, where the uneducated person writes extremely well, and yet, here I am, a supposedly educated person so uneducated because of .... I guess the only correct word is, laziness. (oops I forget some people actually know who I am!)

Anyway, I think for the upcoming new year, I should look into myself and see who I am and what have I become. I am an educated Jew. I should use it. I should be thirsty for knowledge. For Torah knowledge as well as USA knowledge. Read up on current events and not be stupid about what is going on in this fine world we live in! I really mean it. How many of you know what is going on? How many know what each candidate is talking about? How many of you heard that our former president had a quadruple bypass surgery this morning? Is it ironic, that that is the only thing I know what is going on? I read the news more often. Stop surfing irrelevant and useless websites, and start using my brain...Before I lose it!

What is wrong with an Orthodox Jew knowing what is going on in the community? Being a part of the community, and taking an active interest? What is wrong with one reading the daily paper and understanding what the other people are doing. No I am not interested in the latest scandal. I am interested in knowing if this country is going to go to war. I am interested in knowing which is the best stock to invest in, and taking an educated guess as to when I should sell, and not regret it later on. I am interested in knowing what is happening in Israel, about whether there was a suicide bombing or retaliation going on. I am interested in knowing what my two presidential candidates are talking about, and make sure that I do VOTE this coming election day! And make a difference. Yes, it is important for us to know these things. Too bad work doesn't have a current events class, which would force me into knowing these things.