I first saw it on Daily Kos before I saw it in print, but certain people are claiming that congress taking off for Rosh Hashanah is purely political. Not only does this ignore the fact that 30 congresspeople, mostly Democrats, are Jews, but it hearkens back to the last major world financial disaster.
This is from BBC's Blogger North American Editor Justin Webb-
I have always fought hard against the barmy notion that Jewish people somehow control the US government, but hold on - are all congressmen and women Jewish? If they are not, where have they all gone? Where is Keith Ellison? And couldn't the Jewish ones have stayed to fix the crisis? I know in America everyone is allowed to do anything, say anything, think anything, if it has a religious element - but couldn't even the Jewish members have binned the holidays this year?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...
I have, as I said, seen similar sentiment from people here on Daily Kos. It really disturbs me... and yes, I'm going to bring up Nazis so call Godwin's Law all you like. It's apropos.
In the 1930s in Germany, the Depression hit harder than in most places. Hitler and the Nazis rose to power promising to end the Depression by getting rid of the Jews in charge of the power. It wasn't true, but that was what they said.
Now we're seeing similar statements both here and in the press.
If you're one of the people who agrees with Justin Webb, imagine suggesting that Congress stay in session on Christmas or Easter. Do you really think the Christian majority in this country would appreciate that?
Rosh Hashanah is one of the three most important days to religious Jews. It is the day Jews begin their repentance for their sins and the idea of working on such a holy day is simply anathema to many religious Jews.
I am not a religious Jew, I'm a secular Jew. In fact, I'm an atheist. But I grew up in very Christian Southern Indiana and when I was a kid, we went to temple on Rosh Hashanah. More than one teacher gave me a very hard time over it since it wasn't an 'official' day off like Easter, so I have experienced this bigotry first hand.
Jews only make up 2% of the country, but we are a very important voting block, especially since there are a large number of Jews in Florida and we often feel alienated, especially in the autumn when we start to hear about the 'War on Christmas.' John McCain thinks this is a Christian country. Let's not prove him right.