Judith A. Resnik Elementary School Back-to-School Night changed due to the efforts of our Community. Thank you all.

Late on September 11th the principal of Judith A. Resnik Elementary School sent a letter to the Resnik school community changing the date of the Back-to-School Night. Thank you to everyone who wrote emails and letters, and called the school, the Board of Education, and the members of the County Council. This change could not have happened without our community speaking up loud and clear. Thank you to United Against Antisemitism for all your work, and to the JCRC for their help in supporting the efforts of this Parents' Coalition and of the Montgomery County Jewish Parents Coalition. Here is the letter.

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Letter from United Against Antisemitism regarding holding Back-to-School Night at Judith A. Resnik ES on Rosh Hashanah

The United Against Antisemitism organization sent the letter below to the principal of Judith A. Resnik Elementary School, and cc'd the Board of Education.

Dear Ms. Thomas,

United Against Antisemitism is a local grassroots organization that fights antisemitism in K-12 schools.

We have been made aware that your school has scheduled Back to School Night for Friday, September 15 at 6:30pm. Friday night, in addition to the start of Shabbat for Jews, is also the first night of Rosh Hashanah, one of our most holy days of the year.

Surely scheduling a major school event on one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar at a school named after the first Jewish woman to fly in space, in a school district that seemingly prides itself on inclusivity, was an accident that you will quickly correct.

We know you will issue an apology to the community, quickly reschedule the event on an evening that respects the religious practices of its community, and will seek to schedule future events at the school by ensuring that they do not conflict with major religious observances.

Here is a link to major Jewish holidays for the 2023/2024 school year with explanations:

https://www.jcouncil.org/.../2023-2024%20Jewish...

Thank you,

Sincerely,

United Against Antisemitism